Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Are you trying to poison me?! This damn soup is garbage!”

All heads turned toward the table where a man with a flushed face and shrill voice was yelling at a waitress, who apologized over and over, her eyes filled with panic and her hands trembling. Some diners looked on uncomfortably, others with morbid curiosity, as the atmosphere grew heavier by the second.

Izuku watched the scene from a few meters away, feeling powerless.

His boss had already warned him to stop getting into trouble and just stick to waiting tables, all because of an incident the previous week when he confronted a group of Betas who thought grabbing his ass was perfectly acceptable.

In that place, customers behaved like kings and treated the staff like pawns. It was normal. They were in one of Tokyo’s most exclusive districts, where the elite believed they were entitled to everything and expected to be served without a single complaint. Sometimes, it seemed they forgot the people serving them had lives, worries, and feelings of their own.

The man stood up abruptly, his face twisted in rage and holding the plate as if he intended to use it for something far worse than eating. The waitress stood frozen, eyes wide, trembling. Izuku’s heart pounded in his chest, the sound of it roaring in his ears. He couldn’t take it anymore. He knew he needed this job, that another firing would be a disaster, but seeing the waitress so helpless… he just couldn’t stay still.

He swallowed hard as a wave of determination surged through him. He wasn’t going to let that man do whatever he wanted.

“Hey!” Izuku shouted, stepping toward the table before the man could act, his voice cutting through the tense silence that had taken over the restaurant. All eyes turned to him—some surprised, others incredulous—but Izuku had no time to think about the consequences. He had to stop it, no matter the cost.

The sun had already begun to tint the sky in shades of orange when Izuku finally arrived, pedaling slowly and stopping his old bike at the base of the apartment building where he lived. The brakes squeaked loudly, sounding just as exhausted as he felt after such a horrible day.

“Damn it!” he growled, frustrated, bumping his forehead against the crooked handlebars, as if that could change anything. Everything had gone to hell.

No matter how much he pleaded, his boss fired him without an ounce of pity. And the worst part? When he asked for support from the girl he had defended, she simply said she never asked him to intervene, crushing any hope he had left.

Izuku felt completely lost. With all his mother’s medical expenses, he barely had any savings left to make it through the month. He could only hope that morning’s doctor’s appointment hadn’t brought more bad news.

Tears of helplessness began to well up in his eyes. He was tired of it all. For the past few years, he’d been jumping from job to job, each worse than the last, all with the same miserable pay that barely covered his mother’s medical bills. And every time he thought he was getting ahead, his damned heat cycle would hit, taking him out of commission for days and costing him yet another job. It didn’t matter how many cheap suppressants he took or how many patches he wore—until his skin was raw—no one wanted a hormonal Omega who "tempted" others. It was always the same.

That’s why this last job had felt like a blessing—at least at first. Powerful and wealthy Alphas and Betas loved feeling superior, and nothing pleased them more than being served by those they considered the “lowest rung”: pretty Beta women and Omegas. When they saw that Izuku was one of the rare male Omegas, they thought it would attract more customers, something “exotic” and different. He was hired immediately, convinced he’d be a major draw—but things didn’t go as expected.

Izuku had a strong sense of dignity. All his life he’d endured humiliation for being an Omega, and he was sick of being treated like an object. That attitude had earned him several warnings for being too curt with customers who tried to cross the line. Maybe his coworkers tolerated that kind of treatment for a good tip, but he wouldn’t. He couldn’t lower himself like that.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm down, and wiped away the tears that had escaped. He couldn’t go upstairs like this—his mother would notice something was wrong right away, and he didn’t want to worry her. Somehow, he’d find a solution.

“I’m home!” he called out as he closed the door, trying to prop up his bike so it wouldn’t fall over in the entryway. He heard the sound of his mother’s cane and her slow steps approaching.

“Izuku?” she said with a tired voice, glancing at the wall clock and then at her son as he hung his jacket on the rack. “I thought you’d be home later today.”

Izuku walked over with a soft smile and kissed his mother’s forehead.

“I traded shifts with a coworker,” he lied. “I wanted to come home early and hear how your doctor’s appointment went,” he added, gently guiding his mother to the worn-out couch in the living room. Seeing how burdened she looked, he frowned in concern. “Mom?”

“Oh, Izuku,” she said, eyes filling with tears. “The doctor said my bones are getting weaker. I need treatment to prevent fractures.”

“Were you able to buy the medication?” Izuku asked, hoping for a positive answer. But his mother shook her head. “It’s okay. I’ll go to the pharmacy right now and—”

He had just started to get up from the couch when his mother’s sudden sobs stopped him cold.

“Mom, what is it?!” he asked, alarmed, dropping to his knees beside her. “Are you in pain? Do you need me to do something?”

“I’m sorry, Izuku, I’m so sorry,” she said between sobs.

“Is it about the money?” he asked, wrapping her gently in his arms. “I told you not to worry or feel guilty, Mom. I love you, and I’d do anything for you. Just tell me the name of the medicine, and I’ll take care of it.”

“No, sweetheart,” she murmured, her voice cracking. “The treatment costs over 150,000 yen... It’s too much. I don’t know how we’ll pay for it.”

Izuku held her tighter, as if that embrace could protect her from all the pain and worry weighing her down. He felt his own tears on the verge of spilling, but he couldn’t let them. His mother had enough to bear already—he didn’t want to add to her burden. So he stayed there, his head resting on her shoulder, swallowing his tears and gently stroking her hair.

“Everything’s going to be okay, Mom. I promise,” he whispered with a trembling voice, desperately wishing he could believe his own words.

Izuku knew he couldn’t wait any longer. He had to find a job—now. Something, anything that would help cover his mother’s medical bills. No matter how hard he had to try, giving up wasn’t an option.

Chapter Text

Every morning, Izuku said goodbye to his mother with a smile, while she believed he was working extra hours to earn a little more money. In reality, the poor Omega wandered from place to place, desperate to find a job. Every "we’ll call you" felt like another weight pressing down on his shoulders—but he couldn’t afford to give up. Not when his mother relied on him so much.

He had spent nearly all his savings on her treatment a few weeks ago, and each passing day brought his bank account dangerously close to zero. Still, he kept smiling in front of her, hiding the growing anxiety that was slowly eating him alive. He didn’t want her to see how bad things really were; he preferred to bear it all alone.

Sometimes, a few kind shopkeepers took pity on him and gave him a few yen for small tasks or errands. Izuku was grateful for those opportunities, but he knew they weren’t enough. He needed something stable—a fixed income that would ensure they kept a roof over their heads and that he could care for his mother as she deserved.

It was noon when he stopped at a small convenience store. He hadn’t eaten the night before; stress had killed his appetite, but now hunger roared in his stomach. He walked over to the instant ramen aisle, trying to decide which was the cheapest, when a loud voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

“No! I already told you, the position hasn’t been filled.”

A woman’s sharp voice caught his attention. Pretending not to care, he edged a little closer, trying to hear what she was saying on the phone as she grabbed a chocolate bar and walked toward the cashier. Izuku followed at a discreet distance, pretending to check his phone.

“Well, that’s what that idiot Iwasaki told me. You can’t blame me if he told your son something else,” she grumbled, placing the chocolate on the counter. “Tell him to try again... Yes, I already told you he doesn’t need any experience. It’s probably just making copies... Fine, tell him to call this number for the interview. Got something to write with?”

Izuku froze for a moment, then—trying not to seem too obvious—opened the notes app on his phone and quickly typed in the number she had just mentioned. He had no idea what kind of job it was. “Probably an office assistant,” he guessed, judging by the woman’s formal attire. She had said no experience was needed, so maybe it was a messenger job.

Despite his doubts, he decided to go for it. He had nothing to lose, and if there was even a small chance he could get that job, it was worth trying.

—

Izuku sat on a park bench, staring at the number on his phone screen, frowning. He could feel the fear and uncertainty weighing on his shoulders, but he knew he had to act. After a few deep breaths, he closed his eyes for a second, gathered his courage, and finally pressed the call icon. There was no turning back.

The dial tone rang a couple of times before an automated voice answered:

“Thank you for calling Endeavor Group. If you know the extension, please enter it now.”

The omega bit his nails nervously. Extension? What extension? He tried to remember—he vaguely recalled the woman saying something before giving him a suspicious look and walking away, but he wasn’t sure.

“0118... maybe?” he murmured, entering the number and praying it was right. The line rang a couple more times until someone picked up.

“Moe Kamiji’s office…” The voice on the other end paused briefly. “Hello?... Hello!”

“G-good afternoon,” he finally stammered. “I’m calling about a job opening.”

“Job opening? That’s handled by Human Resources. This is the executive department,” the woman replied impatiently. “And besides, that position’s already filled. I’ll transfer the call anyway.”

“Wait!” he cried before she could hang up. “I... I was given this number.”

“By who?” she demanded. “Was it Mitsugi?”

“Yes, yes! That’s right,” he answered nervously.

“Well, Manager Kamiji left a couple of hours ago and probably won’t be back today,” she explained. “But I’ll schedule an interview for Thursday, okay? Take note…”

Izuku listened carefully, trying to memorize the instructions as his heart pounded in his chest.

“Thank you so much,” he said with trembling hands before hanging up. He exhaled deeply… then froze. “Wait—Endeavor Group?!”

—

He barely slept that night. He spent hours researching the Endeavor Group. It was a massive company, a leader in multiple sectors—tech, consumer electronics, luxury goods—and had several subsidiaries. They were also said to be one of the best-paying employers, or at least that’s what workers used to say at his old job.

Izuku decided to cling to that hope and put everything into the interview.

That’s why, on Thursday morning, he got up early to get ready, even though his appointment wasn’t until noon. It didn’t matter if it was just a messenger position—he had to make a great impression if he wanted a shot.

“Come in!” Izuku called when he heard a knock at his door.

“I found what you were looking for, sweetie. Your father’s old ties,” his mother announced, slowly walking in with a box in her hands.

“Thanks, Mom!” Izuku said, hurrying to help her sit in the old desk chair before returning to what he was doing.

“Special occasion?” she asked curiously. “I’ve never seen you get this dressed up for work.”

He paused, meeting her gaze in the mirror. He still hadn’t told her he’d been fired—and there was no way he was going to. Not until he had a new job. Hopefully, today.

“Yeah, something like that,” he lied after a beat. “Like... a marriage proposal. I think.”

“A proposal? How lovely!” she exclaimed excitedly. “I still remember when your father proposed to me. It wasn’t in a fancy place like your job, but it was wonderful.”

“I know, Mom,” he replied with a smile. “You’ve told me a thousand times—wasn’t it on Christmas?”

“Yes, the most beautiful Christmas,” she said fondly. “I can’t wait for you to experience something like that.”

Izuku frowned.

“That’s not something I’m hoping for, you know that,” he said, walking over to her. “My priority is making sure you’re okay. Nothing would make me happier than that.”

“Oh, Izuku! I’ll be fine. You can’t stop living because of me. You’re still young and have your whole life ahead of you. I want you to get married, have kids, and—”

“No,” he interrupted quickly.

“Son…”

“Let’s drop it. I need to hurry or I’ll be late, okay?”

Inko watched him leave the room with sadness.

She wasn’t naïve. She already knew he’d been fired. That night, she’d heard him crying, thinking she was asleep. That’s why she lied, saving the money for her treatment in hopes that Izuku would find a new job soon.

Until then, she’d stretch every cent as far as she could.

—

He arrived in front of the imposing Endeavor building at 11:30 a.m.

The flow of perfectly dressed office workers made him feel small. He gripped the straps of his trusty yellow backpack tightly, trying to summon some courage. He was nervous, but he couldn’t back down now.

He took a couple of deep breaths and walked through the glass doors. He approached the front desk carefully, where two women were chatting behind their computers, the company logo glowing on the screens.

“E-excuse me,” he stammered, catching their attention. They looked at him with a mix of disdain and boredom.

“The high school internship program is closed,” one of them snapped condescendingly.

“H-high school internship?” he repeated, offended. He was 20, not 16. “I’m here for an interview with Manager Kamiji from the executive division.”

The second woman raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Izuku saw her pick up the phone—probably calling upstairs.

“Reception here. There’s a…” she glanced at him with disdain, “young man here who says he has an appointment with Manager Kamiji… okay, understood, thank you.” Izuku saw her type quickly. “Look forward, don’t move,” she ordered.

That’s when he noticed the camera on the desk. The flash stunned him momentarily, but once his vision cleared, she handed him a badge with his photo and the word VISITOR in bold.

“Pin this to the front of your clothing. Don’t remove it until you leave. You may proceed.”

He thanked them, took the badge, and headed toward the elevators. He searched for a button, but couldn’t find one. There didn’t seem to be a way to activate it. Just as he was starting to feel frustrated, the doors opened and a group of executives stepped out. Izuku seized the chance and slipped in before they closed.

Inside, the strong scent of Alphas filled the confined space, stinging his nose. Desperate, he rummaged through his bag until he found an old scent-suppressing spray—almost empty.

“Shit,” he muttered as his own scent began to leak.

As the elevator ascended, Izuku tried to calm himself. This was a rare opportunity—he couldn’t afford to mess it up. He had prepared so much, spending more than he could afford on the urgent health exams they’d asked for.

So deep in thought, he didn’t realize he hadn’t pressed a floor button. The elevator just kept going up—where to, he had no idea.

When the doors opened, he stepped out with determination. He walked down the carpeted hallway, past a few empty glass rooms, until he reached a larger area with an empty desk and an elegant double wooden door.

“Is this it?” he murmured, checking his phone. “It’s almost noon… Did I get the time wrong?” He frowned. “There’s no one here. But they told me to be here at noon.”

“Um… hello?”

He jumped, startled by the voice behind him. He turned quickly and saw an elegant woman emerging from a side door, eyeing him with curiosity.

“H-hi!” he squeaked, making the woman wince slightly. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Sorry. I’m just really nervous.”

The woman gave him a kind smile.

“Don’t worry,” she said, walking over to the desk and sitting down. “Are you one of the new interns? You’re far from the HR floor.”

“No, no. I’m twenty,” he clarified. She raised an eyebrow. “I mean… I’m here for an interview with Manager Kamiji.”

“With Burnin?” she asked, puzzled. “I didn’t know she handled interviews. Give me a second.”

She pulled out her phone and began typing, giving Izuku a moment to take her in. Her large brown eyes were focused on the screen, and her short reddish-brown hair gave her a youthful look. She looked around 37. Her desk was decorated with little cat figurines—adorable.

He glanced at her ID badge. Shino Sosaki.

“You’re lucky. I was about to call security,” she said, causing Izuku to flinch. “But Burnin says she’s expecting you. Come on.”

She got up and motioned for him to follow.

“That bracelet they gave you should’ve taken you straight to the executive floor,” Sosaki said as they walked back to the elevator.

“Bracelet? I didn’t get one—just this,” he said, showing the badge on his chest.

“It doesn’t even have your name,” she noted, frowning. “I’ll have to report this. They shouldn’t be letting anyone up here.”

“That was my fault. I couldn’t find the elevator button, and when one opened with people coming out, I got in. But the Alpha scent overwhelmed me. Come to think of it, the elevator just kept going up—I didn’t touch anything, I swear, and…”

A soft chuckle from her made him stop and blush.

“Sorry,” he murmured.

“Don’t worry,” Sosaki waved a hand. “But you’re lucky I found you. This is the CEO’s floor—if Mr. Todoroki had found you, you’d already be at the police station.”

Izuku froze. “Definitely lucky,” he thought.

“Your floor is below,” she said, tapping her smartwatch-like bracelet against the panel where the buttons should be. “I’ll program the elevator to take you to the right floor this time.”

“Thank you so much!” he said, and they both waited calmly for the doors to open.

“By the way... you haven’t told me your name.”

“I’m Izuku Midoriya, nice to meet you,” he said politely as the doors opened.

“Nice to meet you too, Midoriya. I’m—”

“Shino, what are you doing here? Did you call Usagiyama?”

Sosaki’s calm expression shifted at the sound of the firm voice coming from the elevator. Instinctively, she moved to place herself between Izuku and the tall man who had stepped out.

“Who is this kid?” he asked, frowning. “You know students aren’t allowed up here.”

“He’s not a student, Mr. Todoroki,” she said quickly. “He’s… someone Manager Kamiji is expecting. He was just leaving.”

Izuku stayed silent, staring at the floor through the awkward exchange, subtly covering his nose. His cheap suppressants were no match for the intense Alpha scent of the towering man before him. When he risked a glance upward, he realized the man wasn’t trying to hide his scent at all—especially not the way his gaze lingered on him.

A dominant Alpha, Izuku thought.

“Make sure he gets to Kamiji,” the man ordered, heading for his office. “Then get back to your post. There’s work to do.”

“Yes, Mr. Todoroki,” Sosaki muttered, then quickly ushered Izuku into the elevator. “Hurry. The doors will open on the 18th floor. Walk left all the way to the end—her secretary is pregnant, you can’t miss it.”

“I’m really sorry, I got you in trouble…”

“Don’t worry,” Sosaki said with a shake of her head. “But for now, you better go. And Midoriya... good luck.”

Chapter Text

The elevator doors opened once again. This time, Izuku made sure he was really on the 18th floor before stepping into the hallway.

Following Sosaki’s instructions, he walked to the left, all the way to the end, where, just as she’d said, there was a pregnant blonde woman standing next to a copy machine.

“Excuse me,” he interrupted. “Is this Manager Kamiji’s office? I’m here for an interview,” he explained—for the third time that day.

The woman looked him over before turning toward her computer screen.

“You took 20 minutes to get here from the ground floor?” she asked, raising an annoyed eyebrow. “Punctuality is very important in this company. And that outfit?” she added, eyeing his old red sneakers. “Are you sure you’re an adult? You don’t look like it.”

“I-I’m sorry, I had some trouble and—”

“Yū! Do you have those lists ready? Endeavor needs them ASAP!”

Both turned at the energetic voice coming from the office door, where a curvy woman with long green hair that seemed to flicker like flames strode out.

“You must be the boy Mitsugi sent, right?” she said, giving him a once-over. “I love your high school nerd vibe! Come on in—I’m dying to hear what you’ve got to say.”

Izuku apologized to the blonde and rushed after the fiery woman, who led him into her office. It was quite spacious and decorated in a traditional style that sharply contrasted with her modern outfit.

“Sit down, kid,” she gestured, doing the same. “Want something to drink? Water, coffee, milk, whatever you like.”

“Thanks,” he said, sitting and forcing a smile after being called kid for the fourth time.

“Are you sure? You must be thirsty after your trip all the way up to the 20th floor,” she teased, making him shift in his seat. “Mandalay told me you ran into Endeavor himself.”

Her shrill laugh embarrassed him. Had the woman upstairs said something bad about him? Told her how nervous he was around the older Alpha?

“M-Mandalay?” he asked, confused.

“Let’s leave that for later,” she said dismissively. “Now Hiroshi—your aunt told me you got kicked out of university, you have no experience in anything, and you’re a total slacker. But don’t worry, I’ll shape you up myself so you stop being a leech and become a… less pitiful citizen. I’ve got a few forms here you need to fill out and also...”

Izuku watched Kamiji’s mouth move but wasn’t listening. Aunt? Hiroshi? Of course! The woman in the store was getting a job for a relative. That’s why she’d bypassed all filters and gave him a direct extension. He was screwed. The moment he handed over his résumé, she’d realize he wasn’t who she thought he was and call security to have him kicked out for identity fraud.

Lost in catastrophic thoughts, he didn’t notice Kamiji had stopped talking and was now watching him with confusion—until she slammed her fist on the desk, snapping him out of it.

“Huh?” he blurted out, dazed.

“Your documents,” she said, hand extended. “Do you have them?”

“Ah—yes, yes! Just a second.”

Izuku grabbed his backpack from the floor and pulled out the new folder he’d bought just for this. He stared at it for a second, hesitant to hand it to the woman watching him expectantly.

“Well?” Kamiji pressed, eyes sharp.

“I… I…” He looked into her eyes, which seemed to peer into his soul. “I’m sorry, I’m not who you think I am.” Kamiji tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “I was fired from my last job, and while looking for a new one, I overheard Hiroshi’s aunt talking on the phone. I thought… maybe I could try. I know it was stupid to pretend, but I swear I’m just desperate and—”

A loud, boisterous laugh from the woman cut him off, leaving him confused.

“Oh god, you should’ve seen your face, kid!” she said through her laughter, holding her stomach. “I already knew you weren’t that lazy punk. That boy came in yesterday and he’s a total disaster.”

“What?”

“Hiroshi came to my office yesterday and I gave him the job to cover for Yū while she’s on maternity leave.”

The crushed look on Izuku’s face almost made her feel bad. Almost.

“I’m sorry... I should go,” Izuku murmured, barely holding back tears as he stuffed his folder back into his bag and ran from the office.

“I’m such an idiot! A complete idiot!” he cursed, wiping his tears while trying to figure out how to get back into the elevator. The woman must have told those unpleasant receptionists not to give him the damn wristband—just to block him from the stupid interview. “I’m so stupid. I spent everything I had for nothing.”

He felt like he’d waited an eternity, hoping someone would pass by or that the doors would miraculously open. When they didn’t, he gave up. The only way out of that damned building was the stairs. He paced in circles, desperate to leave.

His prayers were answered when he finally spotted the stairwell sign at the end of the hallway—on the opposite side from where he’d come. He rushed toward it, only to hear voices calling out behind him.

“Midoriya!”

“Kid!”

He turned quickly and saw Sosaki hurrying out of the elevator, scanning the area, while Kamiji rounded the corner of the hallway.

“Hey, wait!” shouted the green-haired woman, seeing him speed up toward the exit. Sosaki didn’t hesitate—she kicked off her heels and ran after him.

“Midoriya, wait!” the brunette pleaded, catching hold of his backpack strap to stop him.

In a moment of panic, Izuku slipped out of the straps and bolted for the stairwell, flying down the steps like a man possessed. Sosaki reached the stairwell just in time to see a blur of dark green hair vanish below.

“You lost him,” Kamiji mocked as she entered a few seconds later, calm as ever. “It was funny watching you run barefoot.”

“You’re faster—why didn’t you go after him?!” Sosaki snapped, glaring.

“I thought you had it,” Kamiji lied, pulling out her phone and pressing it to her ear. “Security? I need you to bring up a kid—he’s heading down the stairwell…”

By the time Izuku reached the ground floor, two guards were already waiting. He tried to double back and hide on a different floor, but another guard blocked his path and finally caught him. They took him to the building’s security station, and after what felt like forever, Sosaki arrived and escorted him back to the top floor.

“Midoriya, I brought you some snacks,” she said gently, sitting next to him in the conference room where he’d been held for over an hour. “Is there anything in particular you’d like?”

“I want to leave,” he replied, his leg bouncing anxiously. Sosaki gave him a reassuring look.

“I know. Just give us a little more time, and then you’ll be free. Okay?”

“I’ve been here an hour!” he shouted, frustrated. “I already apologized to the manager. Please just let me go!”

The cracks in his voice stirred something in Sosaki. Slowly, she reached out and took his trembling hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.

“I promise you’ll be free to go,” she said with a calm smile. “But first, Mr. Todoroki would like a word with you.”

Izuku whimpered. He was scared. His quick online search had told him Enji Todoroki was a tough man. Sure, he’d dealt with rich, arrogant Alphas before, but always in public, surrounded by people. Now, he was alone—on an almost empty floor—waiting to meet with a man who wasn’t just any Alpha, but a dominant one. In a building he owned. What else could the man possibly want from him? He was just a desperate, defenseless Omega…

Fifteen minutes passed before the door finally opened again. This time, Kamiji entered with an unreadable expression that did nothing to soothe him.

“Mr. Todoroki will see you now,” she said, briefly glancing at Sosaki. “Let’s go.”

Izuku stood on shaky legs and followed her. As they walked, Kamiji cast cautious glances his way, making sure he didn’t try to bolt again.

They moved silently to the double doors he’d seen before. Kamiji stepped forward and knocked twice. The deep voice on the other side gave permission to enter—but she didn’t open the door.

“Go on in,” she said, gesturing. “We’ll be out here waiting. It’s okay.”

Izuku looked back and saw Sosaki approaching, which helped calm him a little. He took a few deep breaths, grabbed one of the handles, and went inside.

The overpowering Alpha pheromones hit him like a wall, making him dizzy. The office was pristine, with a massive solid wood desk in front of a large window. Behind it sat the feared CEO of Endeavor Group, reading some documents with disinterest.

“Sit,” he ordered with a voice so deep and commanding it made Izuku’s hair stand on end.

The young Omega obeyed, settling into one of the chairs in front of the imposing man.

Izuku remained silent, barely breathing, waiting for the Alpha to speak again. He saw him set the papers aside—and realized with horror that they were his own files. He scanned the room frantically until he spotted his worn backpack discarded in a corner.

“I see I wasn’t wrong,” the man began in that same low voice that made Izuku tremble. “No matter how many inhibitors an Omega takes, nature always wins. Especially when faced with a dominant Alpha.”

What? Izuku thought, bewildered, as Enji continued.

“Being an Omega in this society is hard. Being a male Omega is worse,” he said, grabbing another folder. “Especially with a father who died six years ago, a mother suffering from an autoimmune disease, and a mountain of debt.”

Izuku’s eyes widened. Cold sweat ran down his back. How did this man know about his mother? Worse—how did he know about the debts?

“It says here,” Enji continued, “your last loan was for 350,000 yen about a month ago—the same day you were fired from Court Angel restaurant after an incident with a customer.” Izuku stared at him, horrified. Enji ignored him. “Before that, you were fired for repeated absences, which I assume were due to your heats, based on average duration.”

Each word pushed Izuku deeper into his chair. He had thought he’d been detained for sneaking into the company—but this was far, far worse.

“How... how do you know all this?!” he demanded, nearly hysterical.

Enji ignored him again and stood, walking around his office.

“Do you know where you are, Omega?” he asked under Izuku’s terrified gaze. “You’re in one of the biggest companies in the country,” he said, pouring himself a drink. “A company that was on the brink of collapse when it came to me. I rebuilt it in Japan,” he added, taking a sip. “But I won’t stop there. I’ve laid the foundation so my descendants can achieve what I couldn’t,” he said, walking toward Izuku and stopping a few feet from him, studying him intently. “And they will—even if the future of my family must depend on a mere Omega like you.”

Izuku’s fear leaked out through his pores. It took everything in him to speak.

“Why are you telling me this?” he asked, voice trembling as he tried to move away. “You’ve read my file. I’m broke. I didn’t even finish high school. I have nothing to offer you.”

“You don’t,” Enji said, eyes locked on him. “But something from your body does. After all, everyone knows male Omegas always produce dominant Alphas.”

No, no, no. What the hell was this man saying? Did they plan to use him? He was over thirty years older than Izuku—he could be his father! Then again, that never stopped people of his status. An Alpha who could access all his records in under an hour could take whatever he wanted. And even if he screamed for help, what could the women outside do? This man was their boss—and had the power to get away with anything.

“Stop crying, kid,” Enji snapped, seeing him cover his tear-streaked face. “This could benefit you too.”

“How the hell could this benefit me?!” he sobbed. “Do you realize you’re twice my age?!”

A mocking laugh escaped the man.

“I’m well aware, boy. But my son is only a few years older than you.”

Izuku’s head shot up.

“W-what?”

“I told you—I laid the foundations. I already have an heir,” Enji said, walking back to his chair. “Now I want you to give him his own heirs.”

“Y-you’re insane!” Izuku shouted. Enji slammed his fist on the desk.

“And you’re drowning in misery,” he growled as Izuku trembled. “A few weeks away from losing your last pathetic savings. A few weeks from being evicted by the bank and your landlord. How long do you think your mother will last then?”

“Shut up! Don’t bring her into this!” Izuku cried.

“I’m just stating facts, boy!” Enji roared, releasing a wave of threatening pheromones. “It won’t be long before you’re out on the streets like most of your kind,” he sneered. “I’m offering you the chance to carry the child of one of my greatest creations, rather than some loser’s bastard. In return, I’ll give you the money you need—and more.”

Izuku shook his head, sickened.

“I don’t know who you think you are,” he said, finally standing to grab his backpack, “but just because you have power doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want.”

“I’m offering you a solution to your problems,” Enji replied, pressing a small buzzer on his desk. “You decide whether your stupid pride is worth more than your mother’s well-being.”

Izuku glared at him with all the hate he could muster.

“I’ll give you time to think about it,” Enji concluded just as Kamiji appeared at the door, looking concerned.

“I have nothing to think about…”

Chapter Text

When he returned home sobbing bitterly, Izuku had no choice but to tell his mother what had happened—from the incident that got him fired, to his failed job search, and the disappointing misunderstanding at the Endeavor Group (carefully omitting Enji Todoroki’s horrific proposal).

“There, there, sweetheart,” she comforted him, drying his tears. “Everything’s going to be okay. You’ll see.”

“How? If I don’t find a job soon…”

Inko pulled a small envelope from her clothing—the same one Izuku had given her weeks ago for her treatment.

“No, Mom!” he exclaimed, pushing it back. “You were supposed to buy your medicine with that. That money’s yours.”

“That can wait, sweetheart,” she insisted. “For now, this will give us a little time to figure out a solution.”

He collapsed into his mother’s warm embrace once more and cried out all his pain while she ran her fingers through his dull hair, whispering apologies for not being able to do more.

Two more weeks passed, and things were no better.

Izuku still couldn’t find steady work, and now he noticed his mother growing more and more exhausted each day. Her slight limp had become more pronounced, and not even her cane could hide it anymore.

“Are you okay, Mom?” the omega asked, watching her wince as she moved around their tiny kitchen. “You know I can take care of the cleaning. You don’t have to push yourself.”

“Nonsense,” she replied. “It’s the least I can do. You break your back every day just to bring food to the table. You need rest too, sweetheart.”

“I know, but I’ve noticed how tired you are,” he said. “And you know I don’t mind helping however I can.”

“We agreed you’d rest today, so go to your room and get some sleep.”

“But—”

“No buts! I’m your mother and you’ll do as I say,” she said, crossing her arms. He smiled at her gently.

“Alright, alright. But don’t hesitate to wake me if you need anything, even something small.”

She rolled her eyes with a smile.

“Fine, fine, now go on.”

Izuku chuckled as his mother shooed him off like a bird and headed to his room, reminding her once again to wake him if she needed him.

The loud knocks on the door jolted him awake. Disoriented, he reached for his phone and realized he’d slept for a couple of hours. He groped for his sandals in the dark and stepped out of his room.

“Mom?” he called, getting no reply. “Mom?”

He intended to go look for her, but the incessant knocking reminded him why he’d woken up in the first place. He walked to the front door and opened it.

“Mrs. Hisakawa?” he said, seeing his elderly neighbor looking flustered. “Are you okay?”

“Izuku, thank god!” the old woman cried. “Quick! You have to come with me!”

“What’s going on?”

“It’s your mother!”

He didn’t need to hear anything else. He bolted out the door in a panic, searching for his mom.

Sitting in the nearly empty waiting room, Izuku’s red, puffy eyes stared ahead, desperate for any news about his mother.

He had found her unconscious at the base of the apartment stairs, surrounded by neighbors trying to help while they waited for the ambulance. From what he’d been told, she’d felt dizzy while climbing the stairs after grocery shopping, lost her balance, and fallen. Mrs. Hisakawa had been coming down the stairs and tried to help, but when Inko didn’t respond, she ran to alert Izuku.

Between waiting for emergency services and her hospital transfer, nearly ten hours had passed with no updates—and it was killing him.

“Inko Midoriya!” a nurse called, stepping through the doors separating the waiting room from the emergency area.

“Yes!” he replied, jumping to his feet and hurrying to her. “She’s my mother.”

“Follow me, please,” she said, guiding him down the white corridor to a small curtained area.

When the nurse pulled back the curtain, Izuku finally saw his mother. She was hooked up to a machine monitoring her vitals and wearing an oxygen mask.

“Mom…” he sobbed, seeing her still unconscious even after all these hours.

“The doctor will be here shortly,” the nurse said gently, catching his attention. “She’s stable,” she added when she saw the poor boy crying.

She offered him a compassionate smile before leaving them alone. Izuku moved to his mother’s side and gently stroked her hair until the doctor’s quiet clearing of his throat made him turn.

“Please follow me,” the doctor said—and from his tone, Izuku knew it wasn’t good news.

Shino rushed through the building lobby, silently cursing herself. She’d trusted the weather forecast that had promised a sunny morning—only for the skies to open up. It was pouring rain outside, traffic was a nightmare, and the trains had been delayed, making her late.

“Hold the elevator!” she called out, just as the doors were about to close. Luckily, someone inside stuck a foot out to stop them. “Thanks,” she gasped, trying to catch her breath.

“I didn’t think you were the type to show up late.”

She glanced up at her savior—and found Kamiji smirking at her.

“Ugh, it’s that damn rain!” she groaned, trying to smooth her wind-blown, damp hair.

“Don’t even mention it. I wish I could be at home like Yū,” Kamiji yawned. “She’s probably having a blast.”

“Doubt it. When my sister—”

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, cutting her off. She frowned at the unknown number calling her.

“Who is it?” Kamiji asked, curious, watching her ignore the call. “Aren’t you going to answer?”

“They’ve been calling since five in the morning,” Shino said wearily.

“If they’re that persistent, maybe you should pick up,” Kamiji pointed out, eyeing the phone as it lit up again. “I can answer for you.”

Shino nodded and handed it over. Kamiji cleared her throat, hit the green icon, and shouted:

“Who the hell dares to bother me this early? Are you asking to die?!”

There was silence on the line for a few seconds… then a soft sob.

.

.

.

“M-Ms. Kamiji?”

Chapter Text

While Sosaki waited beside Burnin—who still had her ear glued to the phone—she silently thanked herself for having given the Omega her card. The poor boy had cried over the phone, explaining his situation and his mother’s critical health, prompting both women to rush to the hospital without hesitation.

A few minutes after they arrived, the boy appeared in a truly dreadful state. It was painfully obvious he hadn’t slept in days; his eyes were red and swollen from who knows how many hours of crying. He looked even paler and thinner than she remembered, and when their eyes met briefly, her heart twisted. That look... so much like her nephew’s…

“Midoriya,” she said softly, walking over to help him as he nearly stumbled. “Come, sit down. Have you eaten anything?”

He shook his head silently, wiping away the tears that were already trailing down his cheeks. Sosaki searched her bag and handed him a pack of tissues.

“Thank you,” he murmured with a hoarse voice. “I’m sorry for making you come in this weather, but… I just… didn’t know what else to do…”

“It’s alright, sweetheart,” she said gently, trying to soothe him. “How long have you been here?”

“I don’t know,” he answered, sniffing. “We arrived Thursday… wait—what day is it today?”

“Tuesday.”

“Oh…”

The silence that followed made her feel worse, so she changed the subject to avoid overwhelming him further.

“How is she?”

“It seems… her kidneys were starting to fail. The doctors say they need a biopsy to determine how much damage there is,” he said, fidgeting with his thumbs without lifting his gaze. “Some toxins are still in her blood—that’s what made her dizzy on the stairs. They’re trying to stabilize her with medication and… she has a serious hip fracture.” He gestured vaguely to his own leg. “The surgery is really expensive… and if I can’t pay for her stay, they’ll discharge her. And I… I…”

Sosaki wrapped her arms around him, and he finally broke.

Medical care in Japan could ruin you financially, and she couldn’t imagine the despair of a boy who knew his mother’s life depended on money he didn’t have.

“Breathe, okay? We’ll fix this,” she said, drying his tears just as Kamiji approached them.

“Midoriya,” Burnin called, kneeling in front of him with a small smile. “I need you to take a deep breath, okay? We’re transferring your mother to Shūzenji Hospital for better care, but we’ll need to handle some paperwork first. Can you do that?”

He nodded silently, getting up with Sosaki’s help. She watched him leave with her friend.

The transfer wasn’t as quick as expected, but it gave Izuku just enough time to return to his apartment, take a desperately needed shower, and pack a small bag with clothes.

The women had promised to stay at the hospital until he returned, which helped ease his anxiety a bit.

Neither of them had said anything, but it was obvious they knew about his conversation with Mr. Todoroki. There was no way either of them had the connections or money to get his mother into one of the most advanced hospitals in Tokyo.

Still, he was grateful. And for now, he wasn’t going to think about his deal with the Alpha. He had only signed the documents necessary for his mother’s care. According to the manager, Enji was out of the country and wouldn’t return for a couple of weeks. He wouldn’t have to speak to him until then.

He stepped outside, where a car was waiting to take him back to the hospital. Upon arrival, the women were still waiting for him.

“Hey, Midoriya! You’re just in time,” Kamiji called out as he walked through the doors.

“Eh… Did something happen?” he asked nervously, noticing the way people stared at the loud woman.

“The ambulance is ready,” Sosaki replied calmly. “They’ll call you soon to ride along with your mother. Burnin will follow in the car.”

“Thank you,” he said with a small smile. “Will you be coming too?”

Sosaki shook her head.

“I wish I could, but something’s come up at the office and I need to get back,” she explained, glancing at her watch. “Besides, Burnin is the one in charge here—she’s handling everything.”

Burnin nodded brightly.

“Endeavor asked me to keep him updated,” she added. But upon noticing Izuku’s discomfort, she cleared her throat. “I mean, he wants to make sure your mother gets proper care.”

“Right…”

A tense silence fell between them until Kamiji cleared her throat.

“In any case, call me if you need anything else,” she said. “Now that I have your number, I’ll try to answer on the first ring. And Burnin—” she looked at her friend, who caught on immediately “—I’ll keep you updated. Izuku, take care of yourself, okay? Try to eat when you get to Shūzenji.”

Sosaki left, and the silence didn’t last long.

“Well, kid,” Kamiji said, giving him a pat on the back, “let’s get this moving so you can finally eat something. You’re even scrawnier than last time.”

Inko had woken up briefly during the trip. The doctors had kept her sedated with a mix of painkillers to manage the severe fracture until surgery could be performed—hopefully in just a couple of days.

Izuku stayed by her side the entire time, holding her hand and whispering softly until they reached the luxurious hospital room assigned to her in the orthopedic ward. A kind nurse walked him through every button and feature of the room, gave him an extensive menu, and the number for the hospital’s private cafeteria.

“This place is practically a five-star suite,” Burnin remarked as she walked in, accompanied by a tiny elderly woman.

“The healing environment is essential, and we take that very seriously here,” the older woman replied before turning to the patient. “Now, let’s see what we have here.”

She approached the bedside table and picked up a tablet. While she reviewed Inko’s medical history, Burnin leaned in and whispered to Izuku:

“That’s Chiyo Shūzenji. She’s the daughter of the hospital’s founder—and the current director.”

“The director?!” he echoed, surprised, staring at the woman jotting notes. Burnin nodded, and they both fell silent to let her work.

“Everything seems to be in order,” the older woman said after a while. “However, I’d like to repeat a few tests,” she added, addressing Izuku directly for the first time. “We’ll do them today so we can schedule surgery for tomorrow.”

“Really?!” he asked, eyes wide. She nodded.

“Thank you, really,” he sighed in relief, then hesitated. “The biopsy—at the other hospital, they said she needed one…”

“The tests will help with that too, sweetheart. Don’t worry,” she reassured him. “The treatment she was receiving was a bit slow, so we’ll start with more advanced medication and keep her under close observation. You’ll probably be here for a couple of weeks, so make yourself comfortable.”

Izuku’s face tightened with worry, but if it meant his mother would recover, he was willing to wait as long as necessary.

Without another word, the elderly woman left, and a team of doctors and nurses came in to prep his mother for the new tests.

“She’s going to be fine,” Kamiji said, taking a seat in the room as they wheeled Inko away. “Come on, sit down, kid. Let’s order some food—I’m starving, and I bet you are too.”

“I’d rather wait until my mom comes back,” he replied, walking to the other armchair and glancing around. “This place must cost a fortune…”

“Mmm,” Burnin hummed. “One night here probably costs a month’s salary.”

Izuku looked down, reminded once again that it wasn’t the women helping him—it was Enji Todoroki.

Nervously, he fidgeted with his fingers.

“Ms. Kamiji… do you think this was the right thing to do?” he asked, making her frown. “I feel like I’m being greedy and… I don’t know how I’ll explain this to my mom when she wakes up…”

Kamiji paused for a moment before replying.

“Listen, Midoriya,” she began. “When I first met you, I thought you were just a little con artist. And yes—I’m the one who told them not to give you elevator access.” Izuku squinted at her. “But now I know you didn’t mean any harm. I don’t judge you. In fact, I admire you. Whatever decision you made—” she stood up and placed a comforting hand on his head “—it was incredibly brave.”

Once again, Izuku couldn’t hold back his tears. He broke down crying.

Somehow, her words lifted a heavy weight off his chest. She didn’t judge him—and he hoped no one else would either.

Kamiji simply kept stroking his hair, offering silent support. This boy had been forced to grow up far too early, working nonstop for the past four years when he should have been in school. He’d kept his home afloat and cared for a mother debilitated by an aggressive case of lupus that caused unbearable pain—and now… now he had to face whatever came next.

But for as long as she could, Kamiji vowed to make sure whatever awaited him would be bearable. This boy deserved the world.

—

A couple of hours later, after they’d eaten, Kamiji left Izuku alone in the room. He curled up in one of the armchairs and, without realizing it, drifted off into a deep sleep.

Chapter Text

His mother's surgery had been successful and her health was progressing positively.

As expected, it had been complicated to explain to her how she had been transported to such an expensive hospital, but as if life was finally smiling on him, Sosaki arrived just at that moment and explained that it was thanks to a supposed health insurance he had obtained by being surprisingly hired by Fendrel (a subsidiary of Endeavor Group). His mother had not asked any more questions after the vague explanation, but Izuku knew her, and knew she had not believed it.

The omega was grateful for the presence of Sosaki and Kamiji, who every day without fail, visited him and his mother, bringing flowers, offering their good wishes and staying for a while to talk.

A few days later, and thanks to Inko's good progress, they finally received good news.

“Everything seems to be in order, Mrs. Midoriya,” said one of the doctors who were examining her. “The surgical wound looks good, and no complications have been reported. You should be able to start short walks under supervision in the next few days. Remember that your bones have weakened, so you should take extreme care,” he explained, taking off his surgical gloves and throwing them in the wastebasket. “The pathology results have also arrived, and there is nothing to worry about, in any case, the nephrologist will visit you later.”

“Does that mean I can go home?” she asked impatiently.

“Mom!” Izuku scolded, embarrassed.

The doctor just laughed.

“Don't worry, I'm sure she must be tired of being cooped up here” he answered unconcerned -. “We are checking her hospital discharge, and if everything continues to progress, she will certainly be able to leave on Friday.”

He didn't want to admit it, but he was relieved with the information. His neck was starting to hurt from spending so many nights sleeping on the recliner. As comfortable as it was, it didn't compare to his own bed. Now he just needed to arrange the apartment to be more comfortable for his mother who, surely, would need to use some orthopedic equipment to facilitate her recovery.

“Excuse me, Mr. Midoriya?”  called an elegant woman entering the room, “Could you come with me, we need your signatures on some forms. “

“I'll be right back,” he said to his mother, smiling.

Following the woman into the hallway, he found Kamiji talking on the phone with his back to him.

“Miss Kamiji?”  he caught her attention.

 “I'll call you back” said the woman before walking to him “Hey Midoriya!”  she greeted effusively.

“Go ahead,” he invited her, waving his hand, ”I'll be back in a second.”

“Actually...” she interrupted. “I'm here to pick you up,” she said nervously. “We have some things to fix.”

He didn't need more than Kamiji's uneasy attitude to understand what she meant, so without saying a word he followed her.

Shoto walked angrily around his office under the gaze of Hanta, who was yawning disinterestedly reading a manga.

The youngest Todoroki had been in what Sero called a “silent tantrum” for about twenty minutes, where there was nothing else he could do but wait until he spoke. 

- Goddamn it! - Shoto growled, slamming both fists on the desk to get his attention. Why the fuck he keeps fucking with my life!

- Ready? - Sero asked, closing his manga.

Shoto slumped in his chair, holding his hands to his head in frustration.

“My bastard father talked to Fuyumi and Tensei, he offered them his fucking house in Okinawa to celebrate their wedding” he muttered annoyed.

Sero clapped his hands happily:

“Great!” he exclaimed cheerfully, receiving an irritated look from Shoto. “What, you're not happy? I thought you liked Tensei” he said and then gave him a sly smile  “Don't tell me it's brotherly jealousy.”

“Don't talk nonsense,” he replied, looking at him wrongly. “Fuyumi has wanted to marry him for years, and that bastard knows it. That's why he dared to give me a damned ultimatum.”

Shoto pulled a crumpled sheet of paper from his coat and handed it to the beta, who took it and frowned.

“Marriage application?” he read in bewilderment.

Shoto nodded, annoyed.

“The old man called me into his office in the morning. One of his damned shareholders wants to marry Fuyumi, a damned geriatric almost three times her age.

Sero looked at him, disgusted.

“Don't tell me he's going to force her to accept, didn't you say...?”

Shoto refused.

“He wants me to get married”  he growled annoyed  “If I say no, he'll make Fuyumi accept that damned marriage and you know how she is; always accepts the old man's orders. When he told her she couldn't get married until I did it first she accepted without complaining” he snorted angrily.

“You're giving her false hope,” said Sero, disgusted, ”And judging by your reaction I imagine your response.”

“That's the damn problem! Just when I was about to tell him to fuck off Fuyumi called me excited with the news, both news”  he clenched his fists “You should have seen her fucking smile, I wanted to fucking punch him so badly.”

“What are you going to do? Do you want me to find out who it is?”

“No, it's obvious what he wants and he'll know you're investigating him,” he replied, tapping his fingers on the desk. “But that doesn't mean I'll let him get away with it, not him or anyone he's made a deal with.”

Sero was silent, imagining the gears turning in his boss's head. Of all the things Shoto had confided in him over the years, this was the most dastardly thing Enji Todoroki had ever done to his children...or so he thought.

He pushed his mother's wheelchair to the door with the number 605 of the condominium where they would live from now on.

A few days ago he had finally met with Mr. Todoroki to discuss the marriage agreement and sign the corresponding contract.

Izuku had read it carefully, paragraph by paragraph, trying to understand the technicalities embodied in the nearly 10 pages the alpha had given him, along with several copies of the transfers covering all of his loans and his mother's medical bills.

“Ex-excuse me,” he spoke softly to the man who did not take his eyes off him. “This is not my address, uh...I live in Takenotsuka.”

“I know,” he replied sullenly, ”That's a low-class district, and my Shoto wouldn't set foot in a place like that.”

The displeasure in the Alpha's voice started a small fighting flame in Izuku.

“Sure,” he said in an irritated tone, ”But he's willing to mate with someone who's lived there all his life.”

“I'll tell you what kid,” he said releasing a small amount of his pheromones to placate Omega, ”Shoto will do whatever I say, you just do your job pleasing him.”

A shiver ran down his spine as he remembered their horrible encounter. If he was a father like that, he didn't even want to imagine what this Shoto guy would be like.

“A spoiled daddy's boy” he thought in disgust.

He tried to erase the negative thoughts and focus on the now as he inserted the code into the state-of-the-art lock on the door that produced a beeping sound.

“Welcome home!” he exclaimed, trying to sound happy for his mother. “Everything looks so new, doesn't it, Mom? The house movers did their best to have everything ready for your arrival, although there are some boxes that still need to be checked. Don't be upset, but I had to pack your things, some of them are here and others are in a nearby warehouse, as soon as you recover I promise to go and check everything, ok?”

While he was engrossed in explaining every detail of the new apartment to his mother, the woman remained as silent as she had been since they got out of the car that brought them.

 “And you should see the bathroom, I asked them to put some bars so you can hold on, isn't it great?”

“Izuku” cut off the verbiage of his son who, hearing his voice would be, look at the floor “Are you going to tell me the truth now?”

“W-what are you talking about?”  he answered, pretending not to understand, “They already told you, it's thanks to my new job....

“What kind of a job gives so much consideration to someone new!” exclaimed the woman tired and on the verge of tears  “Not even a recent graduate would find an offer that would allow him to afford a luxury hospital, an apartment like this one and days off in less than a month, and you tell me that someone like you...”

The woman stopped abruptly.

“Someone like me what?” he said, suppressing his anger. “Someone with no education?”  Izuku felt his body tremble with helplessness. “Or someone who is a simple Omega? Tell me! Tell me once and for all what you really believe about me!”

“Izuku I, I'm, I'm sorry” she murmured apologetically  “It wasn't my intention ....”

“It's okay!”  He interrupted in a huff, “I'll take you to your room so you can rest,” he said pushing her chair into her new room.

Without looking at her, he helped his mother to settle on the bed and left without further ado.

Shoto walked angrily into his apartment around midnight; even though the dinner was to celebrate Fuyumi's engagement, all that was talked about was his own engagement.

Mrs. Iida was nice, but also very nosy, even more so after she tried to put one of her nieces up to her eyes when he was younger.

He himself didn't know anything about the guy he was going to be paired with, so he was in an unpleasant position all night. The only thing he gained from the night was the date the ceremony would take place and the name of his future Omega.

In July, Izuku Midoriya would become his husband...

Chapter Text

Izuku had locked himself in his room all night.

From time to time, he would come out to check on his mother, he still didn't feel ready to confront her. Even though he didn't want to, he knew what his mother really thought he did to pay the bills and his surprise new home.

Prostitution.

The thought made his stomach churn.

He knew the stigma attached to his position. A young Omega, uneducated and penniless was vulnerable to falling into such a profession, and he, many times was granted such an offer while working near the red light district of Kabukicho.

At that time he was 17 years old and was almost desperate as he is now. No one wanted to give a job to someone who had dropped out of school, and the few who would take him on paid very poorly.

“Hey you!” shouted a man who had seen him being rejected at one of the stores near a bar, approaching him  “You're an Omega, right?”  asked very close to his face, so close that his foul alcohol breath made his eyes burn  “You want to make money, huh? I'll give you ¥16k. if you let me knot you, it's a good deal, isn't it?”

He had fled the place in panic.

However, offers came to him more often than he would like to admit, from simple requests for handjobs to group sex in BDSM clubs. The money being offered was tempting, but his fear of contracting a disease or getting pregnant was greater. He could barely support his mother's condition that was slowly consuming her to think about feeding one more mouth.

If he hadn't had Mr. Todoroki's offer, he probably would have ended up giving in to the filthy Alphas and Betas who just wanted a warm body to end up in.

A sound coming from the kitchen brought him out of his thoughts and, confused, he quickly left his room. The complex was in a good area and had 24-hour security, so he doubted it was a burglar.

In silence, he peeked his head out of the hallway to see his mother.

“Mom!”  he exclaimed running up to the woman, who stood at the countertop holding a knife with a trembling hand, “Please, Mom, don't do something crazy, okay?”

“Izuku? What about...?”  she asked confused, then glanced at the hand holding the knife “Oh! No, no, no, no, sweetie. I was trying to cut some tomatoes, but it's quite difficult with only one hand”  explained the woman pointing to the vegetables.

Izuku breathed a sigh of relief before frowning.

“Why didn't you call me? You know you can't make much of an effort yet, what if you had stumbled before you got to the kitchen?” he reprimanded, standing beside her.

“I wanted to have breakfast ready before you woke up”  he muttered with a lowered gaze. “Yesterday you went to bed without dinner because of me and... I don't want to be a nuisance anymore...”

The Omega looked painfully at his mother.

“I've told you a thousand times it's not like that mom,”  he said gently taking the knife out of her hand to hold it. “You've supported me all my life.”

“All I do is stay at home, I should be the one to take care of you...”

“And you do! Every day you make me lunch, even on bad days”  he said sitting her down on a nearby chair.  “You make sure I always come home to a comfortable and loving home”  he continued, placing a soft kiss on his mother's hand. “You are the reason I wake up every day, and I know, no matter how bad it gets, I will have you. No matter what and...”  he lowers his head in sorrow . “I can't tell you how sorry I am for yelling at you yesterday...’.”

Izuku felt his voice was cutting off, he looked up and saw his mother's eyes full of tears. Without wasting time he hugged her so tightly trying to convey his feelings to her.

After a moment, he felt the extra weight of his mother as she wrapped her arms around him with the same intensity.

“You had every right to be angry” she murmured into her son's chest “I'm sorry for what I said to you Izuku. I know you're a good boy, I shouldn't have doubted you...”

“Don't apologize”  he answered separating from her . “And to tell the truth...” he hesitated for a second. He had to tell his mother, the woman had to know he was getting married-. “Let's sit down for a moment” he said -. “There's something you need to know...”

Shoto's eyes burned after spending several hours going through the tower of documents Sero had given him as soon as he set foot in his office. It wasn't that he was lazy, after all he was in charge of one of the largest divisions of the family business. But now his father had delegated new areas to him, so his work had tripled.

“Knock, knock, knock,” said Sero peeking through the door with a smile, ”I brought you more work so you won't get bored.”

Shoto rolled his eyes:

“Agh!”  he groaned in irritation. “This paperwork is months behind schedule and they expect me to finish it in less than a week,” he snapped angrily, leaning back in his seat.

“In fact... they want it by Thursday”  corrected the other, leaving a new pile of sheets on the desk . “So I suggest you hurry if you want to be ready for your date.”

The alpha looked at him, confused, raising his eyebrow:

“What date? I thought I asked Fukuhara to release my schedule, she knows I have work piling up and I don't feel like putting up with any stupid committee with those idiot executives.”

“This meeting is more...personal,” said the beta, sitting down in front of his boss. “Your father arranged for you to finally meet your future omega.”

Shoto snorted in disgust.

“Who says I'm interested?”  he said, in disgust. “Let him be thankful I'm showing up for the stupid ceremony. If it were up to me, everyone would sign the papers and that's it, I'm not interested in meeting him.”

“Come on Roki, it can't be that bad.”

“Can't it?”  he answered looking at his computer,  “Look at this,” he said pointing at the screen. A deposit for almost a million yen and a lease on one of the Ukiyo condominiums in Minato” he explained watching Sero carefully reading the bank reports on the screen.

“I thought she was the daughter of one of your father's friends,” he said in bewilderment. “This isn't even that much money.”

“It is for someone who used to live in Takenotsuka,” he saw the beta frown. “He dropped out of school and has never had a steady job, but several have been near the red light district.”

“I thought you didn't want me to look into it”  he replied crossing his arms.

“I only did when I learned his name and it was unfamiliar to me”  he clenched his fists. “Izuku Midoriya”

“A male Omega?!” exclaimed Sero in surprise, “There must be only a few in Tokyo! And most of them are... I'm sorry Roki, but knowing your father and where this guy comes from, why would he engage you with him?”

“The old man belittles the Omegas”  he said, crossing his arms. “At some point, I thought Fuyumi might be the exception,” he continued seriously, thinking about what he was willing to do to his sister if he refused. “But she chose this Omega for a reason”  he cocked his head to one side, thoughtfully -. “He wants a grandson.”

“All this for a mere grandchild? Your brothers can give it to him, can't they?”

Shoto denied:

“The only ones who could be “worthy” to inherit the reins of the company were Touya or me. But once he knew I was dominant, he left my brother aside, and now he wants me to inherit my genes to someone else,” he explained, looking away. “And not many people know that an Omega man can give birth to dominant children, only if they are sired by an Alpha of the same category.”

“God Todoroki, you make it sound like he sees you as a horse stallion or something,” he said in disgust.

“He thinks anyone can be his property and he most likely plans for me to get the Omega pregnant, then he'll get us divorced and he'll want to keep the child,”  he said.

“But the Omegas are maternal, I don't think this guy will allow his pup to be taken away from him.”

Shoto laughed sarcastically. What could I expect from someone who was probably selling himself for a few yen.

Chapter Text

Inko watched her son walk in circles with tears in her eyes. The news had taken her completely by surprise. After all, Izuku had always been reticent about the idea of having dates. Even a few weeks ago, he had claimed not to be interested in relationships at all. Now, however, he had not only told her that he was dating, but that he was also going to get married

Apparently, he met this alpha months ago at his old job. At first, Izuku didn't want to talk to her about him, thinking it would be a passing thing. But over time, the relationship became much more serious, until the alpha had proposed marriage. After accepting, Shoto offered to cover all the hospital bills and convinced his son to move to a better neighborhood, contributing to the significantly higher cost of his new rent.

It was hard to believe that everything he told her was real. And, although Inko had her doubts, she decided to trust her son's judgment.

“You'll fall on the heads of the neighbors if you go on like this, honey,” she told him with a soft smile.

Izuku sighed, walked over to her and plopped down on the couch nervously.

“I'm sorry, I'm just very nervous,” he said, ”I'm worried about leaving you alone for so long.”

Inko caressed her son's hand tenderly.

“You don't have to worry, honey,” she replied, stopping the anxious movement of Izuku's leg. “I know how to take care of myself and I don't want to be the reason you don't enjoy your night.”

 “Even so,” he replied worriedly. “I wish I knew some of neighbors, so I could ask them to take a look at you, that would put my mind at ease.”

“You have a big heart, but everything will be fine” Inko looked at him with affection, feeling lucky to have such an amazing son.

The conversation between them helped calm Izuku. That is until the doorbell rang, breaking his bubble of tranquility.

“Is that Shoto?” Inko asked curiously. “Send him in. I'd so like to meet him and thank him for everything.”

Izuku frowned in confused. According to Mr. Todoroki's message, the driver should have told him of his arrival, and he should go downstairs to leave. He was not supposed to go up to his floor.

Izuku jumped to his feet.

“He's not supposed to be here”  he muttered, before giving his mother a tense smile. “I-I'll go see who it is.”

The omega ran for the door. It couldn't be Shoto. He needed to talk to him alone first and ask-no, beg him-not to mention anything about the deal to his mother. She wasn't to know anything.

He flung open the door, anticipating the potent scent of an alpha. However, his senses were surprised by a delicate and delicious fragrance of peaches and whipped cream.

“Excuse me,” said a melodious voice that caught his attention.

In front of him stood one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen in his life. Unable to help himself, he looked her over from head to toe. He wasn't very tall, but he noticed that the girl was barely chest high. Izuku blushed up to his ears as he noticed the curvy body hidden by the navy blue coat the girl was wearing.

Her silky brown hair reached almost to her shoulders, marking her youthful and radiant face. Her eyes were surrounded by thick, curly eyelashes, which sparkled in the light of the hallway. Her small nose, colored with a slight blush, along with her soft cheeks and smooth lips highlighted with a reddish ink, completed her charm.

Although Izuku was an omega, that did not make him blind to the beauty of the young woman in front of him, who was now looking at him with a confused expression, breaking the perfection of her appearance.

“S-sorry... W-what?” he stammered, trying to remain calm.

“I was asking,” she repeated, rereading the name on a small card she held between her fingers, “if this is the residence of young Izuku Midoriya.”

Izuku preferred not to trust her words, and just nodded repeatedly.

“Oh! My name is Ochako Uraraka”  she said with a smile, bowing in greeting . “I'm here on behalf of the Ende…”

Completely forgetting his embarrassment, Izuku covered the girl's mouth with his hand and pushed her into the hallway, slamming the door shut to prevent his mother from hearing what Uraraka was about to say. But he didn't count on the girl's quick movement, which in the blink of an eye, left him lying face down on the floor.

“What are you trying to do!” Uraraka exclaimed in a threatening tone, scowling at him as she pressed her knee into Izuku's lower back.

“Stop, stop, stop!” he exclaimed, frightened. “I didn't mean to do anything to you, I swear!” he pleaded unsuccessfully as he felt the girl put more pressure on him  “I-If I wanted to do anything to you, I would have put you in the apartment, right? Besides, look”  he said, awkwardly moving one of his arms to pull down the high collar of his shirt – “I'm an omega, you see!”

Uraraka narrowed his eyes and fixed his gaze on the place Izuku pointed to. Noticing at the base of his neck an odor-inhibiting patch.

“Oh, I'm so sorry!”  she exclaimed, quickly getting up and helping him to his feet. “You took me by surprise. And since I couldn't perceive your scent, I thought you were one of those perverted betas who pretended to be others to try something” - she continued, gently dusting the dust off Izuku's clothes, who blushed when he felt the girl's touch.

“I-it's okay “ said Izuku, stopping his hands when he felt them near his dick -. “It was my fault for... uh... touching you without warning.”

 “Don't worry”  replied Uraraka before clasping his hands together in a pleading manner -. “But please don't say anything to manager Kamiji! I really need this job!”

Izuku looked at her, alarmed by Uraraka's desperate tone, trying to process the situation.

“Yes, yes! Don't worry, I won't say anything,” he said, shaking his hands.  “Just keep your voice down, okay?”  he asked, trying to calm the girl down. The last thing she wanted was for her mother or the neighbors to hear anything.  “Uraraka, right?”

The girl nodded.

“I was sent from the Endeavor group. From now on, I will be in charge of taking care of his mother so you can enjoy your time with Mr. Todoroki”  she explained before bowing. “Congratulations on your upcoming marriage!”

Izuku was stunned. During his life, he had always been the one who had to bow in front of others. He had never been treated with as much respect as Uraraka was doing, (omitting, of course, the moment when he threw him to the ground). He could not deny that, for a moment, he felt a strange satisfaction in being on the other side, although he also saw himself reflected in the woman.

“You don't have to be so formal,” he said, uncomfortably. We must be about the same age.

“But you're my boss...”

“Listen, it may seem that way, but if you think about it, the one who hired you was Endeavor.

Uraraka looked at him, confused, before she could reproach Izuku continued  “Look, my.... fiancé and I are completely different people. Besides... I want you to feel comfortable with my mom and me.”

Ochaco watched the young man closely. Of all the jobs he had ever had, he had never encountered one where his boss had such a beautiful smile. If this man wasn't an omega, he definitely would have fallen in love with him.

Even though Izuku didn't want to tell her mother any more lies, he had no other options. Therefore, he had earnestly asked Uraraka to pretend to be an old friend he had met again and that he would hang out with her. Thanks to that, his mother had kept him a few minutes longer than planned, and now he looked over and over at the time. He was nearly twenty minutes late.

Finally, the car that had been sent for him parked in front of a luxurious building, where a valet employee came over to open the door

“Imperial Hotel,” he read in the large letters adorning the glass doors.

Izuku looked away as the tall black-haired man approached him with a smile. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of him; was that Shoto?

During the meetings, Mr. Todoroki had never shown him a picture of his son, and he had never dared to ask, fearful of the man's reaction. He had tried scanning the office for any family portraits, but had found none. Besides, he couldn't make out any alpha scent. Maybe he used a neutralizer

“Welcome, Mr. Midoriya,” said the man with a warm smile. It is a pleasure to meet you.

“G-good night”  stammered Izuku, trying hard to keep calm. “I'm very sorry for the delay young Todoroki, I....”

“Todoroki? No, no, Todoroki is my boss”  the man interrupted him, still smiling – “My name is Hanta Sero, I am his assistant. Young Todoroki is upstairs, waiting for you in the room he reserved for your meeting.”

“Room?” he thought in panic.

Wasn't this supposed to be a get-to-know-you dinner? Why had he rented a room? Did he expect that... No! No way, Izuku wasn't ready to do... that, and certainly not in a hotel, even one as luxurious as this one; he wasn't a whore.... or was he? In the end, he'd agreed to be a sort of comfort omega and incubator in exchange for money. Whores weren't usually virgins, were they? And he'd never been with anyone, never even had his first kiss!

“Watch out!”  Sero exclaimed, grabbing the omega's arm before it collided with a glass door.

“Oh, God! Sorry, I'm a little nervous”  apologized Izuku, lowering his head to hide the blush on his cheeks.

Sero held back laughter, as he watched the man. He didn't look like the gold digger Shoto had told him about. More like a scared little bunny about to face a predator. But, looks can be deceiving.

The hotel was really amazing, but it was the last thing Izuku could think of as he listened to the echo of his footsteps in the luxurious hallway. Sero, who had just barely guided him to one of the elevators, gave him the number of the room where he was expected.

Soon he saw a burly man dressed in black, like a statue standing guard in front of white double doors. He was a bodyguard, no doubt. The man looked him up and down before bowing slightly in a bow that seemed more like a formality than a warm welcome.

“The young master is expecting you,” he said in a deep tone, moving to the side and turning the doorknob with meticulous precision.

Izuku thanked with a nervous nod and, heart racing, pushed open the doors.

He had to strain to keep from letting out the moan of pleasure that came from the pheromones flooding the room. The pungent scent of musk and cedar seemed to envelop him, making his skin tingle with an almost intoxicating sensation.

He rummaged through the pockets of his blazer frantically in search of the small bottle of neutralizer he had carried as a precaution. He sprayed some around him; while it failed to significantly reduce the pheromones, it did help clear the fog that threatened to cover his mind. With a clearer head, he realized that Shoto was nowhere in sight, so he decided to move further into the room, which actually resembled more of an apartment.

He advanced to the threshold that separated the open space from the reception room and peeked his head out, standing completely still.

The first thing Izuku noticed was the unusual combination of white and red hair of the man waiting for him seated in the elegant dining room. Although the distance prevented him from seeing clearly, he was almost certain that the sharp eyes watching him closely shared the same peculiarity as his hair: brown on the right side and turquoise on the left side. A large scar ran across the left side of his face, but surprisingly it detracted nothing from the man's attractiveness. In fact, it seemed to give him an even more fascinating air.

“Is this a joke?” thought Izuku as he walked forward with his gaze lowered, trying to conceal the trembling in his body. This alpha was exaggeratedly handsome! If it wasn't for the red hair, the imposing aura and the subtle resemblance in his pheromones to Mr. Todoroki's, I would doubt that this was really the alpha's son.

As he approached, Izuku tried to calm himself. The dining room, with its sleek glass table and contemporary designed chairs, seemed to belie the intensity of the man's presence. The soft light emanating from the chandeliers strategically illuminated his face, accentuating the scar and contrasting colors of his eyes.

“G-good night, sorry for the delay”  said Izuku, trying to keep his composure.

“Never mind, you're already here. Sit down” replied the man with an annoyed tone, pointing to the chair in front of him.

Izuku sat down, thinking, “There it is, Enji Todoroki's personality.”

At that instant, the alpha took his phone from the table and began to completely ignore his presence, leaving Izuku bewildered.

Every few minutes, Izuku looked anxiously at the wall clock behind Shoto. With each turn of the hand, his nervousness grew. After 20 minutes without Shoto saying a word, Izuku, tired of waiting, decided to take the initiative and cleared his throat to get the alpha's attention.

“I don't think I have introduced myself. My name is...”

“I know who you are,” Shoto interrupted him, putting away his cell phone without looking at it. “Izuku Midoriya.”

A tingle ran down Izuku's spine at hearing his name come from the lips of such an attractive alpha.

“What I don't know,” Shoto continued, turning his gaze to the omega, ”is what decadent whorehouse in Kabukicho my father got you from.”

Izuku felt as if a switch had been turned off inside him, causing any feelings of attraction towards the alpha to vanish immediately.

“What the sh...?”  he paused. “What are you talking about?”

“I don't see where else I could have gotten an omega like you.”

“An omega like me?”  Izuku squinted at him, trying hard to remain calm.  “What's that supposed to mean?”

“Do you still ask?”   Shoto said wryly. “In any case, from now on I'll have to deal with you. I don't expect faithfulness from you. You can go on with your debauched lifestyle, as long as you are discreet; I have no plans to raise bastards.”

“Enough!”  Izuku exclaimed, getting up from his chair, unable to take any more of the bullshit coming out of Shoto. – “I don't know what kind of person you think I am, and frankly, I don't care. But I'm not going to put up with your bullshit anymore.”

“Is that so?”  Shoto said in a low tone, glaring at him.

At that moment, Izuku smelled an intense burning smell filling the room, making his body fall back on the chair, frightened.

“You're the kind of person who would do anything for money”  Shoto's voice made Izuku shiver, not only because of the dangerous tone, but also because of the implied threat -. “The kind of person who would sell out for what, 500 thousand yen and a new apartment?”  he continued, approaching him.  “If that's what you think you're worth, don't expect to be treated with respect.”

“No...” muttered Izuku, trying to stop the alpha from coming any closer.

“What did you think, that it would be easy to sell you to my father so you wouldn't have to work anymore?”  Shoto asked, stepping around him to stand behind him, “That I would just accept you?” - His breath brushed Izuku's ear, “That I'd stick my fucking dick in you tonight?”

The intoxicating aroma he smelled when he entered the room had returned, making his body warm.

Shoto clearly pleased to hear the faint sigh that escaped the younger man's lips.

“Tell me...you were expecting me to bend you over the table and fuck you hard, hmm?” he said sensually, taking in the sweet floral scent emanating from the omega, despite the neutralizing patch that could do little against Shoto's dominating presence. “Or maybe you imagined yourself on your knees, choking as you sucked my cock.”

“Please...”  said Izuku, enraptured, not really knowing what he was asking for.

Suddenly, he felt Shoto's body pull away, taking with it the intoxicating scent that had enveloped him. Izuku blinked, slowly emerging from the haze the alpha had created around him.

“Did you like it?” asked Shoto with a mocking tone, looking at Izuku who had red cheeks and gasping for breath trying to pull herself together. “Don't expect much more from me, Midoriya. I'm not going to knot you up or give you children” he added while adjusting his coat -. “What we have is nothing more than a farce that must remain between us, there are people who don't need to know what you and my father are doing.”

The omega turned around, furious and with the intention of sending him to hell, but he could only see Shoto's back moving away towards the exit.

Chapter Text

Ochako walked happily towards apartment 605, while humming a catchy tune she had heard on the radio.

Arriving in front of the apartment door, Ochako paused for a moment to admire the small sign meticulously painted in gold with the number. It was a ritual of sorts for her, a moment of pause before entering the place she had come to consider home for the past few weeks. She pulled out the small device the Midoriya family had entrusted to her, which contained the access password. His fingers punched in the code with precision. A soft beep resounded, confirming that the password had been accepted.

“Good morning!” she greeted from the genkan, gracefully slipping off her shoes and changing into some pretty pink slippers that Deku, (as she had decided to call him after Mrs. Midoriya had told her some endearing anecdotes about her son in his preschool days) had given her.

The warmth of the house was a welcome relief from the morning chill. The aroma of home-cooked food was already permeating the air, and Ochako let herself be carried away by the feeling of comfort as she moved forward.

“Uraraka?” asked a familiar voice from the kitchen.

“Good morning, Deku,” she replied, approaching with a smile lighting up her face.  “You're being an early riser today.”

Izuku was bent over the counter, his hands moving deftly among the cooking utensils as he prepared lunch. He turned to her, with a weary expression.

“Ah, yes. I'm preparing lunch for later. I have to stop by the doctor and I need to do it without breakfast. But what are you doing here today? It's your day off.”

“Oh yeah? Who do you think will stay with your mom in the meantime?” Ochako replied with a touch of mischief, popping a piece of crunchy carrot into her mouth. “It needs more salt.”

Izuku rolled his eyes with a resigned smile.

“My visit won't be very long. I was planning to leave her breakfast in bed and have her knit while I go back”  he said, adding a little more salt to his vegetable stir-fry before offering Ochako a piece.  “Is that better?”

“Mmmm” - she hummed, clearly pleased with the taste adjustment. “Anyway, Burnin contacted me. They'll pay me overtime, so why not?”

“You call her Burnin now?” Izuku asked, raising a curious eyebrow.

“She gave me permission” - Ochako replied with an innocent smile, while Izuku finished preparing his bento.  “By the way, are you sick? In all the time I've been here, I've never seen you go to the doctor.”

Izuku shrugged his shoulders slightly, averted his gaze and went about arranging the food in the food container.

“Well, actually, I haven't been there in years. At least not as a patient,” he explained, evasively. “They arranged an appointment for me for a general checkup, or something like that.”

“Your fiance?”  Ochako asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Izuku twisted his mouth and nodded. The reality was that the date had been arranged at Mr. Todoroki's insistence. He hadn't heard from Shoto again since the awkward failed “date” weeks before, and to be honest, he was grateful for it; the guy was a complete jerk, just like his father.

“I can't believe the story of how you met him,” Ochako said, leaning back on the counter with a dreamy sigh, her eyes closed as she imagined the scene.  “It's like something out of a romance novel: rescuing you from a group of bullies, coming to the restaurant where you worked just to see you, and then asking you to marry him, in the rain, despite the differences in social class.”

 “Yeah, right,” Izuku thought wryly as he watched the steam rising from his bento.

The omega's bare legs swayed slowly as he waited on the cold examination bed, covered only by a thin disposable gown that had been provided to him upon entering the office. The atmosphere was permeated with a clinical and slightly astringent aroma, which mingled with the faint hum of medical equipment. The routine had begun with a thorough interrogation, followed by weight and height measurements, blood tests, and a general check-up that she had found uncomfortable and almost invasive.

Suddenly, the door opened, attracting his attention.

“Mr. Midoriya, good morning. I am Dr. Yoshida,” said the man, approaching the ultrasound machine near the bed. “Please lie down and uncover your stomach. You can cover yourself with one of the sheets if you prefer,” he added as he prepared the equipment. Noticing the omega's suspicious look, he smiled kindly.  “What's the matter? Oh, of course, my apologies, I'm an omega doctor, see?”  he said, showing his badge to reassure him.

Once the omega relaxed and lay back, he jumped at the feel of the cold gel spreading over his abdomen.

“Have you had any recent contact with alpha pheromones?”  asked the doctor after a while.

“N-no,” he replied nervously, ”I only live with my mother, who is a beta, and with another omega. Is there something wrong?”

“That depends,” replied the doctor, turning the screen toward him and pointing to the image. “It looks like your internal omega glands are starting to prepare for an heat cycle, which is unusual given that you've been taking inhibitors for the past year.”

“An heat?!” he repeated, alarmed.

The doctor nodded as he captured some images on the ultrasound screen.

“It's not common, but it can happen” he explained, taking the tablet from the side table -. “It usually happens when you come into contact with a strong presence of sexual pheromones.”

The omega's eyes widened with surprise and concern.

“Like... an alpha dominant's?”

“Have you been in contact with any of them?” asked the doctor, seeing him nod. “Well, the cavity is empty, so there is no pregnancy. However, be sure to avoid sex for a few more weeks or use protection.”

“No, no! We didn't do anything!” - he exclaimed, blushing. “We just...we just talked.”

A chuckle escaped from the doctor.

“There's nothing to be ashamed of, Mr. Midoriya, sex is something completely normal, even more so among young people,” he said, trying to calm him down. “Anyway, next time you ‘talk’, take precautions. The results indicate that their hormone levels are still close to the warm-up phase. Excessive exposure to your partner's pheromones can increase those levels and trigger an heat, even with inhibitors.”

“God...” he muttered under his breath, now understanding his body's overreaction.

After Shoto had left him alone, he had run desperately to the bedroom, locked himself in and spent more time than he would like to admit dealing with the raging hard-on that the alpha's pheromones had caused him. The alpha had left him with an overwhelming need, and if he had stayed any longer, he would likely now be carrying the baby his future father-in-law so desperately wanted.

Are the pheromones of a dominant alpha that potent?

Even with the news about her cycle, everything else seemed to be in order, which came as a pleasant surprise. He had neglected his health for the past few years, so the positive result was a relief. Dr. Yoshida focused on his reproductive health, which made sense, considering that was the main reason Enji was helping him. In the end, he left the office with a small bag of vitamins and supplements that the doctor recommended he take as soon as he was off the inhibitors.

As he walked toward the hospital cafeteria, the buzzing of his old cell phone made him stop.

Sosaki - 11:30 a.m.

Midoriya, once you're done with the doctor's visit, the driver will pick you up. I'll see you in a little while.

With a resigned sigh, he slipped the phone back into his pocket and turned toward the exit. Although his stomach was growling with hunger and the idea of a late breakfast was tempting, he would have to postpone it.

Izuku stared out the car window in fascination. For as long as he could remember, he had dreamed of touring downtown Ginza, but had only had the opportunity to pass through on the subway train on his way to work. Now, his eyes sparkled at the luxurious storefronts of boutiques like Creati&co and Bakuhatsu, as well as the elegant Ingenium Crossing, where the country's most sophisticated cars were on display. The contrast between the brightness of the mall and the grayness of the daily routine made him feel as if he were in a dream.

The car came to a smooth stop in front of an elegant white building, its modern and neat facade gleaming in the sun. Sosaki was already waiting for him at the entrance, with a warm smile that was accentuated by the elegant outfit she was wearing.

“It was not necessary, Miss Sosaki”  said the omega getting out of the car after the woman had approached to open the door for him -. “Anyway, I really appreciate the gesture.”

“Don't worry,” she replied, leading him to the entrance of the building. “It's good to see you, I feel like it's been years.”

“Mmm” he nodded -. “It's been a little over two months, how have you been?”

Sosaki let out a tired sigh, which made Izuku laugh slightly.

“I'll just say I need a vacation,” she said, opening the door of an elegant vintage-style elevator and inviting him in.  “And you? I heard you met with Mr. Todoroki's son recently.”

This time, it was Izuku who let out a snort.

“That bad?”

“He's a complete...” he paused, hesitating whether it was appropriate to insult Shoto in front of her, considering he was something like her boss.  “He was very rude.”

“Rude?”  Sosaki asked curiously, “He's usually reserved, but I've never seen him be rude to anyone.”

“Well, he was to me,” he replied as they walked out into the hallway.  “He insulted me and insinuated that I was... Actually, I was hoping we'd get along.”

“I don't think he's a bad person,” she said.  “Maybe you can talk more quietly during the engagement ceremony on Saturday.”

“What!”  Izuku exclaimed, surprised.

Sosaki looked at him in confusion.

“I sent you an email last week”  she said while knocking on an elegant white door -. “That's why we are here, you need a special kimono.”

Izuku gaped in awe as the door opened, revealing a dressing room full of kimonos in a variety of dazzling colors and styles.

 The day stretched on for three long hours of fittings and fittings, where he finally found the perfect kimono. Exhausted, Izuku allowed himself to enjoy a well-deserved meal, his stomach growling in gratitude after so long without food.

Pretending interest in his sister's chatter, Shoto remained silent in the car they were both riding in. The situation was particularly irksome to him; this wasn't just a family meeting arranged by Fuyumi that he could quickly escape from to avoid his father. It was their fucking engagement meeting, which meant that he would also have to socialize with Midoriya, and pretend that he didn't hate the idea of sharing space with him.

“I'm so excited, Shoto!”  said Fuyumi, beaming. “I can't wait to meet him. Then we could get together again to introduce Tensei to him. Oh! And maybe we can go together to pick out gifts for our weddings. I also want to make an appointment at Uwabami's beauty clinic for both of us to go. What do you think of the idea?”

“Fuyumi,” Shoto interrupted half-heartedly, ”You don't even know if you'll like it. What if you think it's a nasty omega?”

“Is it?”  she asked, surprised.

Shoto shrugged his shoulders.

“Shoto, is it?”

No answer.

“Shoto!”  Fuyumi exclaimed, shaking him by the arm repeatedly. “You have to tell me! I'm your sister and... wait... he's pregnant?”

“What!”  Shoto replied, dumbfounded.

“Is that why you wanted to get married so fast, he seduced you and got pregnant on purpose?”  Fuyumi asked, looking at him seriously. “That's it, isn't it? That's why you think it's nasty.”

“God, Fuyumi! Where do you get that stuff from? I never said that.”

“What other explanation could there be? That's why you never mentioned him.”

Shoto rolled his eyes.

“I didn't mention it because I knew how you would react. You would have forced me to bring him to every meeting you plan and that would be irritating,” he said, frustrated.  “Just look how you got over a simple question!”

“It wasn't a simple question. It was a very specific question, and since you haven't told me anything about him, my reaction is justified.”

“As you say”  replied Shoto, as the car stopped in front of a modern but simple building -. “Let's go.”

He got out of the car and headed for the building as the driver helped Fuyumi down from the other side. His sister walked over to him, smoothing her dress and adjusting her hair before taking his arm and walking towards the doors of the building. A few minutes later, a sleek black van arrived and out of it descended Enji, who, without a glance at them, ordered them to follow him.

Chapter Text

The Midoriya family remained seated on the couch, waiting for their guests. While Inko was eager to finally meet the alpha who had stolen her son’s heart, Izuku was in a panic. The thought that his mother would meet not only Shoto but also Enji gave him a stomachache.

Therefore, despite his mother’s insistence, Izuku chose to ask Miss Sosaki for help with the food that would be served; he preferred to blame the catering service if something was not to his liking, rather than expose his mother to criticism and possible unpleasant reactions.

Another thing that made him uneasy was not knowing anything about the rest of the Todoroki family. The family was quite secretive with the press, so he knew absolutely nothing about any member other than Enji or Shoto.

He could only hope that they weren’t like the two idiots he had the misfortune of encountering. Because if they were, he didn’t know how he was going to endure being around them not just now, but for the rest of his life.

Izuku suppressed the intense urge to vomit. He carefully stood up, making sure not to wrinkle the elegant olive green kimono his mother had helped him put on, and walked around the living room. Maybe checking once more that everything was in order would ease his discomfort.

First, he checked that each pheromone neutralizer was working correctly. With the latent danger of going into heat, he had opted to place at least ten of them throughout the room; the last thing he wanted was for his mother to see him desperately jumping on Shoto, so it was better to be safe.

Izuku fought the intense urge to vomit. He carefully stood up, making sure not to wrinkle the elegant olive green kimono his mother had helped him put on, and walked around the living room. Maybe checking everything one more time would ease his discomfort.

First, he made sure each pheromone neutralizer was working correctly. With the risk of going into heat still present, he had placed at least ten of them around the room; the last thing he wanted was for his mother to see him desperately jumping on Shoto, so it was better to be safe.

He walked around the dining room where the meal would take place, where an elegant red tablecloth covered the table, adorned with a simple yet refined arrangement of camellias right in the middle. Around it, a variety of delicious-looking dishes were carefully covered and ready to be served on fine china. On a side table, gifts wrapped in the traditional manner for the exchange ceremony were piled up.

Izuku sighed deeply; everything seemed perfect. It had to be perfect. After all, the responsibility of the day weighed on his shoulders, and any mistake could anger Mr. Todoroki.

“Sweetie,” his mother called, gesturing to him. “Come here for a moment, the back is a bit wrinkled.”

Izuku approached her and let her fix it, feeling a bit of peace from his mother’s delicate touch.

“Doesn’t it feel too tight?” she asked, adjusting the collar of the kimono. “Maybe I should loosen it a bit before they arrive?”

As if summoned, the doorbell rang through the apartment, alerting them both.

“I guess there’s no time,” Izuku said, stepping away from his mother to head towards the door. “Mom, could you do me a favor?” he asked, avoiding the gaze of the woman who was getting up from her seat. “Don’t mention anything about the hospital bills. Shoto…” he whispered, “he hasn’t told his family anything, and I don’t want him to get into trouble.”

He knew his mother wanted to thank the person she thought had helped them, but after Shoto shut down any explanation, Izuku preferred to keep the matter private. If the alpha wasn’t interested in listening, he was no longer interested in giving explanations…

“What’s his family like?” Fuyumi asked, watching Shoto ring the doorbell.

“I don’t know,” he replied, shrugging before giving a serious look to the man behind them. “Why don’t you ask the old man? He probably knows more about them than I do.”

Enji growled in response, keeping his arms crossed.

“Dad?” Fuyumi questioned, confused. “Why would he know?”

“Why wouldn’t he? You know how much he loves meddling in my life…”

“Stop that childish attitude, Shoto,” the older alpha interrupted in a threatening voice. “You represent the Todoroki name, and as such, you must behave accordingly.”

Shoto, feeling the weight of his father’s intimidating gaze, growled as he released a defiant scent that filled the air around him.

The tension in the hallway became palpable, and Fuyumi, situated between the two alphas, lowered her head in submission, anticipating one of their horrible fights.

Before the argument could start, the door was opened by Izuku, who, feeling the tension and the powerful scent of both alphas, covered his nose with trembling hands.

“Dad, Shoto,” Fuyumi called, hoping to calm the atmosphere, noticing how the young man had turned pale and seemed about to faint. “Please…”

Shoto was the first to turn his gaze towards the door. Seeing Izuku, he huffed angrily and, without waiting for an invitation, stormed past him, causing him to lose his balance. Before the omega could fall to the ground, Fuyumi quickly approached to help him steady himself.

“Are you okay?” she asked, carefully taking his arm. “I apologize for this bad first impression.”

“D-don’t worry,” Izuku replied, trying to sound calm while avoiding Enji’s intense gaze. “Maybe he’s a bit nervous, right? Umm… would you like to come in?” he asked, stepping aside.

Fuyumi gave him a tense smile before linking her arm with her father’s and entering the apartment.

The omega walked behind them, and once in the living room, he approached his mother, who was silently observing the man who would soon be her son-in-law looking around.

“Ahem… Mom,” Izuku cleared his throat, trying to get the younger alpha’s attention. “Have you met Shoto yet? He’s here with his family,” he said, nervously playing with his fingers. “This is my mother, Inko Midoriya.”

Inko looked at the rest of the newcomers, giving them a friendly smile:

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, especially you, young Shoto,” she greeted, bowing politely towards them. “I’m very glad you could come, even with such short notice.”

Shoto ignored the woman, favoring continuing to scan the place.

“T-the pleasure is ours, Mrs. Midoriya,” Fuyumi spoke, giving her brother a disapproving look and trying to sound cordial. “I am Shoto’s older sister, Fuyumi, and this is my father, Enji Todoroki.”

Although Fuyumi returned the bow, the alphas remained upright, Shoto with disinterest and Enji refusing to lower himself to the Midoriya’s level.

“Idiots,” Izuku murmured almost imperceptibly. They hadn’t been here for even five minutes and were already being extremely rude. If he didn’t depend on them, he would have kicked them out already. Except for Fuyumi, she was trying.

As if he had read his thoughts, Shoto moved his eyes towards him, making him jump. “Uhh… We prepared some butterfly tea,” Izuku stammered, feeling uncomfortable under the young alpha’s gaze as he looked him up and down. “Would you prefer to sit in the living room or…?”

“Let’s move to the table. I have important meetings in a couple of hours,” Enji interrupted authoritatively, moving around the place as if he owned it.

A little voice reminded Izuku that, indeed, the alpha was the owner. So, without further ado, he diverted his gaze to the rest, inviting them to follow him to the dining room. Fuyumi passed by him, giving him an apologetic smile, while Shoto walked behind her without paying him any attention. Inko gave him a worried look. “It’s okay,” he assured her in a whisper, helping her walk to the table.

He had to say he wasn’t surprised when Enji Todoroki headed straight for the head chair at the table. It seemed as if he followed an unwritten rule that granted him the right to occupy that place. It was a calculated gesture, a clear reminder of his position in front of everyone. Fuyumi chose to sit to his right, with a polite but tense smile, while Shoto placed himself next to his sister, clearly seeking distance from his father.

The omega and his mother took their seats on the opposite side of the table, leaving him facing Shoto.

“You have a very beautiful home,” Fuyumi commented, trying to break the ice with a polite smile.

“Thank you very much, Miss Todoroki. Although I must…” Inko stopped abruptly when she felt her son’s hand squeezing her knee. Izuku’s pleading look reminded her of what he had asked. “Uhh… I mean, thank you very much. That’s very kind of you.”

“No need to be so formal,” Fuyumi responded, friendly. “You can call me by my name, just like you, Izuku.”

He returned the smile nervously, under the intense gaze of Enji watching the interaction.

“In that case, you can also call me Inko,” his mother accepted. “We will be family now.”

Fuyumi nodded, grateful. But Inko’s words caused a new uncomfortable silence.

The food was exquisite, but Izuku found himself unable to enjoy it.

Despite Fuyumi and his mother’s efforts to lighten the atmosphere, it quickly faded, reducing the conversation to an occasional murmur, only broken by the sound of cutlery.

Izuku shifted restlessly in his seat, casting furtive glances at Shoto, who occasionally took a bite, more interested in staring at the ceiling with disinterest.

The atmosphere was becoming increasingly oppressive, and the young omega couldn’t help but feel sick about the situation. His mother didn’t deserve to have to deal with these people. This wasn’t something she had expected.

“Everything is delicious,” Fuyumi said once more, trying to break the uncomfortable silence as she took a bite.

“Oh, thank you! I’m glad you liked it,” Inko responded, forcing a smile. “I hope you like it too, Shoto.”

The young alpha remained silent, fixing his eyes on his plate, avoiding any interaction.

“Let’s cut to the chase,” Enji said impatiently, clearing his throat to get his son’s attention.

Shoto, feeling his father’s piercing gaze, tilted his head with disinterest

“What?” he asked, blinking.

“The gifts, Shoto,” Fuyumi reminded him in a low voice.

“Oh,” Shoto responded, turning his gaze to Izuku and Inko. “I forgot them.”

“Shoto!” Fuyumi scolded. “How could you forget them?!”

Shoto shrugged indifferently, further angering Enji.

“Stop behaving like a spoiled brat!” the older alpha yelled, causing Inko and Izuku to exchange uncomfortable glances. “I ordered you to prepare them, you knew they were for today!”

“I-it’s okay, Mr. Todoroki, it doesn’t matter,” the omega quickly intervened, trying to calm the situation. “We can always organize another meeting, right, To…Shoto?” he asked with a forced smile, receiving an irritated look from the alpha.

“A new meeting sounds lovely! Right, Dad?” Fuyumi supported, looking pleadingly at her father. “Since Touya and Natsu couldn’t attend today, it would be great to have the whole family together on another occasion.”

“Why isn’t your father here?” Shoto intervened with a note of curiosity, ignoring his father’s murderous look and resting his head on his hand.

Izuku lowered his head and shook it slowly in denial.

Fuyumi, noticing the omega’s sad look, kicked her brother under the table, causing Shoto to startle and give her an angry look.

“Unfortunately, my husband passed away years ago,” Inko said, running a comforting hand over her son’s arm. “Since then, it’s just been Izuku and me.”

“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Inko!” Fuyumi exclaimed, visibly embarrassed, and looked at her brother reproachfully. “Shoto, apologize!”

Shoto refrained from rolling his eyes and muttered an apology through gritted teeth.

Frustrated by his son’s attitude, Enji did not hide his impatience.

“I don’t have time for this, let’s get to the point!” Enji said firmly, directing his relentless gaze at Izuku, who immediately lowered his head, this time with unease. “You will have a traditional Shinto ceremony at the Hie Jinja shrine, scheduled for July twelfth. After that, there will be a reception in the Imperial Hotel ballroom,” he announced without waiting for a response. “You can coordinate the date and location of your honeymoon during the visits to the apartments I have selected for your move. Make sure to inform Sosaki so she can coordinate everything.”

“There will be no honeymoon, I have more important things to do,” Shoto declared curtly, crossing his arms and staring at Izuku, waiting for a reaction.

The omega, however, kept his head down.

“That’s up to you,” Enji declared coldly. He stood up from his chair abruptly, making the backrest creak. “Fuyumi, you and Shoto stay a while longer. I have things to attend to.”

Without waiting for a response, Enji walked to the exit, leaving his children in silence, Izuku half trembling, and Inko completely confused.

Chapter Text

“Did he say July?!” asked Inko, turning to her son with a surprised expression, “Why didn't you tell me that your wedding is scheduled for a few weeks from now?!” 

Izuku, equally surprised with the news, tried to answer in a trembling voice, 

“I'm sorry, Mom!... I swear I was going to tell you…”

“Izuku, I thought we had already settled this!”

“Please don't scold him,” Fuyumi intervened. “Surely Izuku was waiting to find out during this meeting, wasn't he?” she asked, making him shrink back in his chair. 

“I'm sorry, it's just that…” Inko hesitated. “We are a modest family and the hotel your father is talking about must cost a fortune. We couldn't afford something like that.”

“Oh no, no, no! You don’t have to worry about that,” Fuyumi said, “The wedding will be on us.”

“I'm sorry, Miss Fuyumi, but we can't accept such a thing. I can't accept it,” replied the woman, shaking her head. “I thank you very much for your help, Shoto…”

“Mom!”

“Mine?” said Shoto, who until that moment had remained silent, arching an eyebrow. 

“I imagine how much you love my son,” she continued, ignoring Izuku. “But this is too much.”

Shoto fixed his eyes on the omega, who also looked at him pleadingly. Rolling his eyes in frustration, he stood up from his chair. 

“Come!” he beckoned, motioning for Izuku to follow him. Izuku excused himself before walking off after Shoto, leaving Fuyumi confused and Inko worried.  

“Which is your’s...?” Shoto asked, pointing to the doors, which he assumed, were the omega and his mother's respective rooms. 

Izuku walked past him, holding his breath after sensing the faintest scent emanating from the alpha.  

“Come in,” he murmured before quickly walking to the other side of the room, Shoto looked at him skeptically as he cracked open the windows. “I-I like to keep it ventilated,” he excused nervously.

The alpha chose to ignore his behavior, opting to look around instead.

The walls were painted a crisp white, accentuating the room’s spaciousness. Natural light flowed through large windows, covered with light gray linen curtains that added a modern touch. In the center of the right wall, a double bed with a neutral-toned bedspread and brightly colored decorative pillows reflecting a contemporary style. The bedding was perfectly arranged, giving the impression that the room had been tidied up recently.

“It's a nice place, it looks expensive,” said Shoto, looking at him. 

“Well, yes.”

“How are you supposed to pay for it?” he prodded, approaching him. “Or is this what your mother was referring to?” he asked sarcastically. “Does she know anything about what you’ve gotten yourself into?”

“Of course she doesn't!” he snapped, flustered by Shoto's nearness.  

“Then she must be either very blind or very stupid,” he said mockingly, provoking the young man who looked at him angrily, clenching his fists. “I mean, where did she get the idea that I love you? Because that’s the last thing I feel for you…” he continued, cornering Izuku. “Did you tell her the same thing about your former clients?”  

Unable to take Shoto’s nonsense any longer, Izuku threw a desperate punch forcing the alpha to take a step back in shock.

“Fuck you!” Izuku shouted angrily, “I won't let an asshole like you insult my mother! You don't know shit about me or her!”

Shoto held his hand to his cheek, His eyes fixed on the omega who was looking at him bitterly..  

“Maybe I will,” Shoto replied, a dark tone in his voice. “But first, I'll go to my dear mother-in-law to have a long and honest talk about her wonderful son…”

As the alpha turned around, Izuku felt dread filling his stomach, knowing he had screwed up. 

“Todoroki, wait!” he pleaded desperately, seeing the alpha reach for the door handle. “Please, I’m sorry…” he said, grabbing his arm and receiving a cold look from Shoto.

“Let go of me!” he growled. He yanked his arm away, pulling Izuku forward in the motion, causing him to fall to his knees.

“I’ll do whatever you want!” Izuku shouted desperately. “Just, please… don’t tell her anything… she can’t find out.”

Shoto paused, watching Izuku from above. He suppressed a satisfied growl, seeing the omega so vulnerable. A dark smile tugged at his lips as he slowly bowed. 

The alpha dropped his hand from the door handle, looking down at Izuku’s crouched figure. He again, attempted to suppress a satisfied growl tickling his throat at the sight of the omega so desperate. The grin on his lips widening as he slowly leaned down.

“Whatever I want, you say?” he murmured, voice low. “Then prove it. Show me you deserve my silence.”

Izuku swallowed hard. “W-what do you want me to do?” he murmured, lowering his head to avoid Shoto’s piercing eyes, making him feel even more vulnerable than he already was, the urge of submission already burning his ears and cheeks a bright red.

Shoto laughed lightly, “You tell me, this was your idea” he whispered, touching his cheek, covering him with his pheromones, making him gasp. “Come on, baby. Show me what you're willing to do, how far you're willing to go.”

With a face full of discomfort, the omega brought his trembling hands to the front of Shoto's pants and began to rub his dick. The alpha bit his lips to stifle the smile that threatened to creep onto his face. Shoto would be lying if he said he wasn't excited to see what the omega would be capable of. 

For his part Izuku was distressed, he had no idea what he was doing, and he knew he was playing with fire. With Shoto’s alpha pheromones all over him, his heat could easily be provoked at any moment. His inexperience became obvious after a while, when Shoto looked at him bored. 

“Do you think that's enough?” he inquired, beginning to grow bored at Izuku's poor attempts to arouse him. “You don't seem to want me to help you.” 

Izuku's hand dropped to the floor. He felt humiliation overcome him as he raised his tearful, pleading gaze to the alpha. 

“Please…”

Shoto felt strange satisfaction at the sight of the omega's eyes moistening. He brought one of his hands up to Izuku's head and pulled his hair tightly to fully reveal his beautiful features. Izuku closed his eyes tightly, letting out a small lustful moan at the action.  

“Well, well, what do we have here?” Shoto mused, unable to hide his satisfied smile. “Did you like that?” he asked, yanking at the omega’s curls more forcefully.

“Ngh…ahh!” moaned the omega again, feeling a heated tingle go straight down to his crotch, arousing his member all at once and flushing his face in embarrassment.

Shoto felt his smile widen, letting out more of his aroused scent, reveling in the gasps Izuku let out in response. He brought one of his hands to the omega's cheeks, wiping away the tears that stained his flustered face, “What pretty expressions you're making…” he murmured, caressing Izuku's half-open lips. 

The omega moaned once more, turning his head to catch Shoto's long fingers in his mouth. 

“Shit,” he sighed, feeling the omega's slippery tongue caress his fingers and then suck them hard, drawing a guttural moan from him. He felt his erection throbbing in response to the omega, who watched him with narrowed eyes.

Unable to restrain himself any longer, Shoto, using the grip he had on Izuku’s hair, pulled the omega onto his feet, before lunging forward in a hard kiss that almost made him fall on top of the young man. Izuku gladly accepted it, wrapping his arms around Shoto's neck, pulling him closer to him. 

Despite never having kissed anyone, it seemed that his lips knew perfectly well how to move to follow the demanding rhythm that the alpha set, drawing a string of sighs and moans from him when their tongues met. Soon the room was filled with sighs, moans and wet sounds coming from their mouths, which as soon as they were separated for a moment of air, were anxiously reconnecting.

The more time their lips spent together, the stronger the scent they gave off and the more demanding the kisses became, tense heat began building between the two the longer they kissed, putting them in need of something more. 

Shoto slowly lowered his hands to Izuku's sides and lifted him up, forcing him to wrap his legs around the waist of the alpha who pinned him back against the wall with a thud drawing a gasp from the omega, muffled by the alpha’s lips. 

Izuku felt Shoto's warm hands squeeze his thighs. Feeling confident that Shoto would not let him fall, he brought his hands down to the alpha's tie, frantically loosening and unbuttoning a couple of buttons. 

“So desperate…” murmured Shoto into a kiss.

“S-shut up!” Izuku growled, blushing, pulling Shoto's hair trying to wipe the stupidly beautiful smile off his face. Without giving him any more time to tease, he brought his lips to the alpha's pretty neck, leaving soft kisses that drew sighs from Shoto. He stuck out his tongue to taste the alpha, realizing that he tasted as good as he smelled. 

In response, the alpha pressed closer to Izuku, rocking gently against the smaller. Izuku's moans against his neck, encouraging him to continue, causing Shoto to give the omega little nibbles in an attempt to stifle his excited sighs. 

“Hold on,” he rasped, voice husky, placing a kiss on the shell of the omega's ear, making him tremble with excitement.

Izuku's mind was clouded with a haze of excitement. A small part of him wondered how it had come to this. A few minutes ago he had been cursing Shoto and now the alpha was making him feel so many things he never in a million years thought he could feel. He might regret it later, but now, he felt that anything would be worth it as long as he remained in the arms of this handsome alpha, who was now carrying him to his bed as if he weighed nothing. 

Shoto threw Izuku harshly down onto the bed before climbing on top of him, eager to bring their lips together again. A deep sigh came from Izuku, as Shoto's mouth descended down his neck, feeling an electric current run down his back as the alpha's warm tongue made a wet path to his earlobe, biting playfully.

“Shoto!” he moaned, arching his back, feeling their arousal collide. “Sho-shoto, ahh!” 

“So sweet...” murmured the alpha, almost tasting the strong potency ofIzuku's pheromones emanating from the gland in his neck, filling the air with the sweet omega scent. “So good omega...”

Those simple words made Izuku's stomach flutter with happiness, a moan escaping his lips in response. He wrapped his legs around Shoto's hips, pulling him closer in desperation.

I want it inside, so deep the omega thought, an ache already forming in his stomach, feeling how big the alpha's cock was, the space between his thighs throbbing in anticipation, he could feel slick soaking his underwear, the irresistible scent clouding the alpha’s mind. 

Shoto let out a gasp, his inner growling with satisfaction and pride at the sound of Izuku's voice moaning louder and louder, as he rubbed himself over and over against the other.

“Ahh! M-more, more, more!” he cried, tangling his fingers in Shoto's soft hair, pulling him to meet his lips again. “P-please, please!” he murmured longingly between wet kisses. “Alpha, alpha!”

Shoto smelt a sudden sharp wave of uncommonly strong omega pheromones from Izuku, he opened his eyes in surprise and pushed himself away from the omega, leaving him writhing on the bed, sobbing. 

“No, no, alpha!” Izuku whimpered, stretching his arms out to the mentioned, trying to regain the warm body that had been on him not a moment before. “Come back!”

Shoto covered his nose as he tried to get as far away as he could from the hot omega, who had sat up and was reaching for him desperately as he clutched to the blankets around him. 

“Alpha, please... ahh!” sobbed Izuku, ”Fuck me alpha!”  

He's gone into heat, Shoto thought in alarm as he felt Izuku's thick pheromones calling to and tempting him. It took all his self-control to avert his gaze as the omega began to touch himself over his clothes, moaning and starting to pull at his already loose kimono.

He just wanted to teach Izuku a little lesson for hitting him, teasing the omega and trying to see how far he was willing to go with his mother just outside. But now he had a horny omega stripteasing him, while looking at him with desire, testing his strength of will.

Of course, he could just walk away and leave him there. However, he could not risk the chance that the omega would keep moaning and begging for his knot even in front of his sister and mother. He had to find a solution to calm him down, Izuku's increasingly intense pheromones were tempting him in a way he could never have imagined, making his gums tingle and the scent of his arousal cloud the air so strongly Fuyumi and Inko would be able to smell it soon if he could not control himself. 

“Sho-to” Izuku purred, catching his attention, giving him a lust-filled smile as one of his hands played with the strap of his juban* and the other tugged at the top. 

The alpha swallowed, noticing the tempting nipples peeking through his loosening cleavage and his growing erection staining the thin white fabric with precum. 

“Come alpha, I need you,” he crooned, stretching his hand towards Shoto once again. “Fill me with your knot, alpha. Tear me apart....”

Shoto had never been a man of faith, but in that instant, he could not help but feel that some divine force intervened on his behalf. 

Izuku kneeling very close to the edge of the bed as he was, in his attempt to reach him and with desire clouding his judgment, he miscalculated the little space he had left, and in the blink of an eye, he fell face first onto the floor. 

The hard blow helped Izuku's mind to clear for a moment. He lifted his head, watching as the alpha looked at him panting, trying not to pounce on him.  

“S-suppressor,” he muttered as best he could, pointing a trembling hand towards one of the chest dressers next to his bed, hoping Shoto would understand his request. 

Fortunately, the alpha immediately grasped what he was asking for and rushed past him. He frantically searched through Izuku's drawers until he found a box with the suppressant injection. With the epi-pen-like tool gripped in one hand he turned back to face the omega, seeing he had sunk back into his desire and was waiting for him on all fours. 

“Alpha!” he moaned, lifting the hem of his juban, wiggling his bare ass provocatively towards Shoto, “Stick it in!” 

Shoto felt his knot begin to swell at the base of his aching dick. He could see how red Izuku's hole was, dripping with slick, inviting him to sink into it and fuck it as hard as he wanted.

Izuku let out a choked moan as he watched the alpha begin to unbutton his pants. He brought one of his hands back, spreading him apart, causing Shoto's mouth to water as he watched the natural lube drip down Izuku's smooth thighs. “Fuck me alpha, fuck me!”

Both women had sat uncomfortably for the past stretch of time since Shoto and his fiance had left the room, they sat sipping cooling tea and looking anywhere but each other. That was, until a knock followed by agitated footsteps coming from the hallway. Inko turned to the younger, who pushed back from the table and stood up when she noticed the woman's worried look.

“I-I'll go see what's going on, don't worry, okay, I'll be right back,” Fuyumi reassured, following the way the 2 young men had disappeared twenty minutes ago. 

Her brother's scent, mixed with an unifamiliar sweet omegan scent, surely belonging to Izuku intensified the further down the corridor she went, finally guiding herself to one of the rooms from which the pungent scent came. Carefully, she put her ear close to the door, trying to identify any sounds. 

“Agh!” groaned someone on the other side, she jumped back from the sudden noise, before calming her heart.  

“Shoto, Izuku,” she called, knocking on the door. “Is everything all right?” she asked. Receiving no answer, she tried to turn the knob without success. “Shoto, open up! What's going on?!”

At that moment, the door opened, letting out a cloud of pheromones that made her cover her nose, blushing.   

“W-what do you want?” stammered Shoto, visibly agitated and sportinga flushed face. 

Fuyumi stared, her brother would not make eye contact, and his face seemed to be growing redder by the second. She was speechless as she took in the state her brother had come out in; his hair was completely disheveled, and the sweat running down his face made his bangs stick to his forehead. His jacket was gone and his tie was loose around his neck. She was pretty sure, if she looked down any further, she would find his pants to be only half-zipped.  

“We heard a noise and we...” she murmured, averting her eyes over her brother's hunched shoulder, trying to look inside. The bed was messy, with the pillows thrown about and the comforter scrunched up near the bed’s end, she could make out the silhouette of Izuku, who was breathing heavily, covered with Shoto's jacket and some of the disarranged pillows. “Is he okay?”

“Yes,” Shoto answered sharply, blocking the view inside with a short step to the side. “We'll be out in a second, apologies for taking so long,” he excused, already making to close the door and it was shut before she could utter another word.

Half an hour later, both walked back to the dining room under Inko’s watchful eye. Shoto had straightened his suit, while her son now wore a simple outfit of cargo pants and an oversized sweatshirt.

“Is everything okay, dear?” the woman asked innocently, causing a subtle blush on Shoto’s face and a much more noticeable one on Izuku’s.

"Y-yes mom, e-everything's fine" he laughed nervously . "I felt the kimono was a little tight, Shoto helped me and we stayed chatting a little too much, right, Shoto?"

“Of course,” he agreed, avoiding his sister’s accusatory gaze. “Uh… Mrs. Midoriya,” he cleared his throat, catching the woman’s attention. “I hope you’ll excuse the haste of the… wedding, but I assure you everything was perfectly planned by your son,” he said, looking at the omega, who shrank in his place. “As for the expenses of the ceremony and everything else, you don’t need to worry. As Izuku has surely informed you, my family owns one of the largest conglomerates in Japan, the Endeavor Group. My father will be more than happy to finance everything.”

The look Inko gave her son was enough for Shoto to realize that, indeed, the woman had no idea what Izuku had done for money.

“Even so… it doesn’t seem fair that only you pay for everything,” the woman replied, making Shoto feel a bit guilty for insulting her behind her back. The punch Izuku had given him was well deserved. She wasn’t to blame for her son being a little gold digger.

“I insist,” he said, “You have already done so much for my beautiful Omega, guiding him to me… it’s the least I can do for my beloved fiancé.”

Izuku gave him an unpleasant look when he heard the scathing tone Shoto had used to refer to him. He didn't understand how he could be so calm, as if nothing had happened. He still felt warm at the memory of Shoto's hot hands on his body, his tongue caressing his throat, his ardent kisses, his delicious smell, his huge-... Stop it, Izuku!

The omega had to pinch himself to keep his imagination from betraying him. He was still sensitive, the fabric of his sweater itching against his scent glands as he shuffled uncomfortably. So, to try to calm down, he took the glass in front of him with trembling hands, hoping the cold water would help soothe him.

“Aww, Shoto!” Fuyumi cooed, “When Ms. Inko told me about how you proposed to Izuku in the rain, I couldn’t believe it. I never would have imagined you being the romantic type…”

“I am, aren't I, sweetheart,” he said, a hint of sarcasm Izuku was sure only he could hear present in his voice, he watched without a hint of empathy in his gaze as the Omega almost drowned in the water at the young woman's words. “Although, I remember it a l

Chapter Text

Izuku collapsed onto his bed, exhausted. Just about everything he thought could go wrong had gone wrong; from how rude Enji had been, both the senior Todoroki and his fiance completely ignoring his mother, to his little…  accident with Shoto.

He groaned, covering his reddened face with the sheets. It had been torture looking into Fuyumi and his mothers eyes after what had almost happened between him and Shoto.

“Idiot!” he cursed himself, pulling a pillow up and promptly burying his face in it, letting out a groan. “I can’t, I can’t, I’m not ready,” he muttered.

The memory came back to him, before the heat blinded him, he had felt Shoto, his presence, his size... He had no one to compare him to, only himself, which was barely a comparison at all. His own member was practically useless, so small it fit perfectly in one of his hands, as was typical for male omegas. He's huge... he'll tear me apart! he thought cheeks flushed, and panic creeping up in his chest.

However, regardless of whether he liked it or not, he would eventually have to submit  himself to be knotted by Shoto. It would be his duty, to give birth to a son, provide Shoto and his father with the male alpha heir they so clearly wished, so that his mother could live peacefully. But even with the logical knowledge and acceptance he felt, the reality was that outside of his heat, he didn’t, and wouldn’t feel ready. Physically or mentally.

Desperate for some answers, Izuku pulled his phone from the bedside table and opened the browser. His fingers trembled as he typed. Calm down, Izuku. This is something normal for omegas, right?   he consoled himself desperately, trying to convince himself as his trembling finger selected the first available link.

The pink light on the screen illuminated his embarrassed face as he scrolled to the homepage of the toy site. There were so many options, each one more bizarre than the last, “What is this, why is it shaped like that!”  he exclaimed, staring at strangely shaped dildos labeled shamelessly as ‘tentacle dildos’.

Shocked, he quickly exited the page, and just as he was about to click on another link, his phone vibrated abruptly, he let a yelp at the sudden notification and spent the next minute calming his heart.

Unknown number, 09:48 pm

| Hey Izuku, this is Fuyumi! I hope you don’t mind, I asked your mom for your number. I loved meeting you both today, and I really hope we can hang out again before the big day! |

The omega reread the young woman’s message over and over, already forgetting what he had previously been searching for.

It was a bit of a surprise to see his mom get along so easily with Fuyumi. Without Enji’s presence, the two had chatted animatedly and non-stop for the rest of the meeting. Fuyumi had been the one to make plans for lunch sometime. He was reluctant about the idea at first, especially feeling the piercing look Shoto had given him to reject the offer. But Fuyumi was so insistent, and he was so embarrassed by everyone’s stares that he had no choice but to accept. Besides, his mother needed friends, she barely spoke to anyone outside of Izuku, their neighbor, Hisakawa-san from their old place and Mashiro-san the elderly mailman from their place in Musutafu.

“I’ll see you soon,” Shoto said, bidding him farewell with a stiff hug before whispering in a low and demanding tone, “Watch your words.”

Izuku frowned, recalling his stupid threat. The Todoroki men, or the ones he’d met, were complete idiots, but Fuyumi… Fuyumi was charming, and Izuku could almost say he could look forward to meeting with her again, if only her younger brother would not attend.

The ‘sometime’ the omega had mentioned over text turned out to be the next day.

Fuyumi showed up at his door very early, dressed in a neat pale rose blouse and jeans, asking him and his mother out for breakfast.

“We’d love to join you, Miss Fuyumi, but I’m currently unemployed,” he confessed, uncomfortable with his financial situation.

 For the past few months he had not received a single yen more from Enji. The alpha had merely sent someone to pick him up every week and take him to the supermarket.Always a different person, and on a tight budget exclusive for basic food items only.  

“No junk or fried foods, sugary drinks, instant ramen, snack cakes, or any candy. Mr. Todoroki will only agree to pay for healthy food.” That's what they told him the first time, when one of them saw him place a small package of his mother's favorite danish pastries in the shopping cart. 

It was fortunate that, some time later, Burnin would find out about it, and from then on it was she who accompanied him, letting him freely choose whatever he wanted.   

“Fuck it, take it all away, you're an adult! If you want to have a damned hamburger for breakfast DO IT! ”   

“Shoto should be giving you money, you’re his omega! Is he really not?” the young woman cried, pulling out her phone. “I’m going to call him right now, I can’t believe he’s being so inconsiderate with you.”

“No, no, he does help me! It’s just… I don’t want to bother him,” he lied quickly. “Shoto is wonderful. He’s so good to me,” he said, biting his tongue.

Fuyumi looked at him skeptically;

“I hope that’s really the case, because if not, he’ll have to deal with me,” she assured seriously, putting away her phone. “Anyway, I’m inviting you both, so don’t worry. And besides it’s just Fuyumi, remember? We’re family.”

Izuku smiled at her gratefully.

These outings were repeated quite often during his last month as a single man, so it was fortunate that a few days later, Izuku received a debit card in his name, where Enji would deposit a monthly stipend; he’d received plenty of warning that he wouldn’t get any extra and that the Todoroki partiach would have people checking his receipts and spending regularly. 

He didn't have many funds, but it was more than enough not to abuse Fuyumi's generosity, for it wasn't just the three of them. After her future sister-in-law met Uraraka, she was charmed by her, and joined their “breakfast club” as his mother had dubbed it.   

However Inko often had to go to the hospital accompanied by Ochako, so more often than not, it was just Fuyumi and him.

On those days, the older omega would take him to visit all the stores in the mall. “Omega time,” she’d once called it, while they got a massage at a luxurious spa and she shared anecdotes and gossip about her life.

“Growing up with mostly alpha brothers is tough. They don’t understand these things,” she said. “Shoto was very selfish to keep you all to himself. You’re a sweetheart, Zuku, and probably too good for my brother. I would have loved to meet you earlier and help you plan your wedding,” Fuyumi added, giving him a beaming smile. “I love Shoto, but I know he’s quite difficult, so I really appreciate you sticking with him,” she gently took his hands and continued, “From now on, you’ll always have my full support.”

The sweet warmth of Fuyumi’s hands and her sincere words felt like a punch in the gut. All the lies he had told the omega so far made him feel like complete trash.

The days continued to pass. Between visits to the tailor and outings with Fuyumi, he began to feel like he had neglected his mom a bit.

So, a week before the wedding, he put everything aside to devote himself only to her.  

Of course, he didn’t expect to take her with him to his new apartment (which he chose alone since Shoto kept making excuses about work and stood him up for several appointments with the agent). But ever since, even when his father was alive, it had always been him and his mom against the world, so being separated from her so permanently felt rather strange.

When he was growing up his mother would wake him every day with a special breakfast that changed everyday. Ever since she got sick Izuku started taking up that role and as her strength began to fail her, they enjoyed these breakfasts in his mothers bed, snuggling up together and watching stupid reality shows on the TV in her room. Whenever Izuku had had free time with his previously busy schedule, they went for walks in nearby parks, cooked together with laughter and jokes, and in the afternoons, they settled on the couch to watch all kinds of movies until late at night. Occasionally ending up cuddled together in her bed, where they fell soundly asleep.

Ever since this whole marriage thing Izuku had agreed too, that practise fell woefully out of use. He made sure to do all their favourite things together in his last few days with his Mother. They ate good food, went on many walks, watched many movies, and cried as much as they did laugh.

One of those afternoons Ochako joined them for their movie ritual, bringing with her a bag full of fresh ingredients to prepare a delicious snack. At first, cooking had not been a talent she could call hers, but thanks to Inko's patience and teachings, she had become quite skilled in the art. However, the kitchen was not spared the mess and bustle that followed, as laughter and jokes filled the air, turning the chaos into an endearing memory. 

When it was close to midnight, the light from the TV illuminated Inko’s face, who had fallen asleep halfway through the last movie. Careful not to wake her, they both walked to the kitchen to start cleaning while chatting in low voices.

“Have you and Todoroki found an apartment yet?” Ochako asked curiously, drying the dishes Izuku was washing.

“Well, he’s busy, you know? So I picked it out myself.”

“Booo! There are things you should always do as a couple,” she complained, disappointed. “You need to let him know that just because you’re marrying him, it doesn’t mean he has you secured.”

Izuku laughed at seeing the girl grumble.

“Don’t laugh! I’m serious.”

“I believe you,” he said, then looked up at the ceiling nostalgically. “Honestly… the idea of being with someone never really appealed to me. For years, I had settled with the idea that it would always be just my mom and me.”

“Things change, right? Now you’re about to join your life with someone else’s.”

A deep frown appeared on Izuku’s forehead as he looked away. The young woman continued.

“You know, I studied a couple of years of medical wellness,” Ochako said, handing him a towel to dry his hands. “But when my dad lost his job, I had to leave school to help him and mom pay the bills.”

“I’m really sorry, that must have been very hard,” Izuku responded, a flash of compassion crossing his face.

Ochako shook her head with a smile.

“I admit I was sad, I had worked really hard to get a spot at the university, but what I learned helped me get some jobs,” she said, before her expression darkened. “But, as an Omega, most of them had hidden intentions, you know what I mean.”

“Ugh,” he responded, putting his palm to his forehead. “I could go on for hours…”

“Right? That’s why I reacted the way I did when I got here. I apologize once again for that,” Izuku shook his head, dismissing it. “What I mean is, now you won’t be alone, you have someone who will help you. You’ll have someone to protect you.”

Izuku lowered his head, thoughtful. Despite Ochako’s attempted reassurances, more than feeling relieved, he was terrified. According to Fuyumi, Shoto was difficult, but not bad. However, he hadn’t been able to personally confirm any of that, and he was sure that Shoto hated him. He had basically spat it in his face on more than one occasion, during their first meeting and before his pheromones made him go into heat. God , he felt his ears warm lightly at the memory.

Ochako allowed the cold silence to stretch for a moment, before she spoke up again;

“You know I’m moving in with your mom when you leave, right?” she reminded him, catching his attention. “Is that why you got sad? ‘Cause you're leaving your mom?”

“Yes…” he murmured, offering the other omega a shaky sheepish smile as he rubbed the back of his neck. 

“You shouldn’t feel bad for her, she won’t be alone,” Ochako smiled. “I promise I’ll take good care of her.”

“Thank you, really,” he said, smiling melancholically. “I hope this isn’t too much for you and that you can go back to university soon.”

“Are you kidding? Your mom is wonderful! She’ll forget about you soon, and I’ll officially be her daughter,” she joked, making Izuku chuckle. “And I hope you continue with your studies too.”

“Me?” he asked, pointing to himself in confusion.

“Yes, are you planning to stay in school after you get married? Are you in College at the moment? Or will you become a housewife?” she asked with a playful smile.

“Well…” he lowered his head, shame burning his cheeks. “I left school a long time ago… I only completed half of my second year of high school…so.”

“Oh…” she mumbled, embarrassed “I’m sorry, I didn’t know…”

“It’s okay, it was my decision… I did it to help at home,” he responded, smiling sadly. “At that time, my mom had just been diagnosed with her illness. It would become very painful for her to keep working, and the doctors said it would hinder her health, and I couldn’t let her suffer like that,” he said, looking back at the woman sleeping in the living room. “She didn’t agree at first, my grades weren’t that bad, so she hoped I could be someone in the future, but…” he trailed off, looking up to meet Ochako’s understanding gaze, she nodded,

“It’s ok, I understand.”A small silence settled between them until the girl spoke again.

“Wouldn’t you like to go back to it?”

“My time has passed. I’m about to turn 21…”

“Nowadays, there are many options! There are online courses, you could totally do it!”

“But I’m getting married..”

“So what? You’re your own person, and you should take advantage of the fact that your future alpha is loaded with money.”

Izuku remained silent. There was a time when he dreamed of a bright future, finishing high school, enrolling in university, and finding a good job. But those dreams crumbled under the weight of reality. Juggling multiple jobs, taking care of his mother, and keeping up with his studies proved to be too heavy a burden, crushing any vestige of hope. Now, the girl offered him a small ray of light, a spark that barely ignited in his chest.

But that light was a cruel mirage. As much as it hurt, his fate was already sealed. The dreams of his childhood, the desire to move forward on his own, had vanished like a lost sigh in the darkness. There was nothing left of that fervor, only a void that consumed him slowly.

Only when his body was surrounded by Uraraka’s gentle arms did he realize he was crying. But those tears weren’t a relief; they were the echo of everything he had lost, of a future that would never be his.

“You’ll make it, Deku…” she murmured, feeling Izuku hug her back.

Maybe it was Ochako’s sweet scent, the dim lighting around them, or the background noise of the TV filling the silence. Maybe it was the effects of stopping the suppressants. But when they pulled apart and he looked at her, he felt his body heat up and his heart race.

It wasn’t as intense as what he felt with Shoto’s pheromones, but it was different. This warmth was softer, more comfortable, though it still made him nervous and his tongue dry.

Carefully, Izuku lifted his hand to brush a strand of hair from Ochako’s forehead, making her blush. Slowly, they moved closer until their breaths mingled. He saw Ochako close her eyes, and for a moment, everything seemed to stop.

“Izuku?”

His mother’s sleepy voice made them jump and immediately pull apart. Ochako turned around, hiding her face, while he headed to the living room, trying to control the frantic pounding of his heart.

Chapter Text

From the moment her beloved Izuku had presented as an omega, Inko had dreamed of this day more times than she could count. That dream echoed in her mind in a persistent cycle, it remained a refuge where she could escape reality and find comfort in the tender and hopeful images she had for her son.

In her imagination, Izuku wore a beautiful white suit that made him look more stunning than ever. His smile was so radiant that it seemed to light up everything around him, eager to unite with the alpha he had chosen to share his life with.

Sometimes, the emotional moment unfolded in a simple yet elegant hall, with velvet curtains cascading from above and warm golden lights gently touching every corner, creating an intimate and cozy atmosphere. Other times, she saw them in a garden in full spring, surrounded by vibrant flowers and delicate sakura petals softly falling.

But of all those dreams, the ones she longed for the most, and at the same time; hurt the most, held the memory of a living Hisashi, her beloved husband. In those visions, he walked beside Izuku, his chest puffed out with pride and his eyes shining with love and nostalgia. He would accompany his son to the altar, just as he should have, smiling and holding Izuku's hand.

Each night, as she closed her eyes, Inko lost herself in those images, in those dreams, clinging to them like a mother who only wishes the best for her child. But, no matter her deepest hopes and wishes, reality was a cruel contrast to her dreams.

Since the night Uraraka had left the Midoriya’s residence in a sudden hurry,, Izuku had been unusually quiet, almost absent. At first, Inko tried to reassure herself, thinking the silence was normal, just nerves and excitement before such an important day. However, now, as she watched the temple attendants dress him in the pristine Shiromuku, she knew something was wrong, the empty look in his eyes as he looked at himself and his dressing in the mirror was not that of a happy Omega looking forward to their happy day. Instead of the anticipated excitement in her son's eyes on such a meaningful day, all they reflected was a sadness she did not expect.

 Inko felt a knot in her stomach and struggled to hold onto the hope that everything was fine, but her maternal heart could not be deceived. The coldness emanating from Izuku was impossible to ignore, and with each passing minute, the unease inside her grew, turning the day she had so long dreamed of into the embodiment of her worst fears.

"Sweetheart," Inko whispered, calling her son's attention.

"Yes?" he replied, his voice flat and distant.

Their gazes met through the mirror in front of Izuku. Inko bit her lip, unable to find the words in front of the women who were preparing her son. Noticing his mother's hesitation, Izuku asked them for a moment alone. When the door closed, the omega stepped down from the small platform where he had been standing for the last thirty minutes and knelt in front of Inko.

"Yes?" he repeated gently, taking hold of his mother's hands.

"Son… are you really sure about this?"

Izuku pressed his lips together. No, he wasn't sure. Every fiber of his being wanted to turn back, but he was trapped in a contract he couldn't escape. He had signed an agreement that bound him inescapably. If he backed out now, he would have to return more than double what Mr. Todoroki had already given him. And how could he? The few valuable things he once had, he had already sold long ago in attempts to pay for his mothers treatment.

"I am," he tried to smile, though the sadness in his eyes remained. "I've never been so sure of anything in my life..."

"Then... why are you crying?" she asked, her heart breaking as she saw the thick tears rolling down Izuku's cheeks.

"It's just... I'm so happy..." Izuku replied desperately, his eyes pleading through bitter tears.

There wasn’t a place he could turn without a camera pointing straight at his face. He felt like a rabbit surrounded by hungry predators, waiting for the slightest misstep to devour him.

During the ceremony, Izuku could feel Enji's gaze burning into the back of his neck, which only made him even more nervous. His hands trembled so much that he nearly dropped the sake the priest had served him, and he heard Shoto's mocking scoff. 

Despite everything, despite all the alpha’s attitude towards him, he couldn’t deny that Shoto always managed to look more attractive each time he saw him.

Through the exchange of rings, Izuku avoided looking him in the eye at all costs. Shoto's new haircut made him appear serious and masculine, stirring feelings within Izuku that he probably shouldn't have been experiencing in such a sacred place and in front of so many people.

As the applause and murmurs of the crowd filled the hall, Izuku felt a whirlwind of emotions: confusion, fear... Everything seemed unreal, as if he were trapped in a dream.

When they were presented as the newlywed Todoroki couple, Izuku gazed at the crowd and the surroundings in bewilderment. Although the congratulations and enthusiasm of the attendees filled the air, Izuku couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness that enveloped him.

He was infinitely grateful for the change of clothes. The Shiromuku, though exquisite, had been so uncomfortable and heavy that it left him feeling suffocated and his shoulders sore with its weight. 

Now, in its place, he wore a much more comfortable elegant red kimono with fine golden embroidery. It was a sharp contrast to the traditional attire, but on his “special day,” anything that allowed him to breathe and move comfortably was a welcome relief.

The hall was filled with renowned businessmen and political figures. Among the guests, he could spot some celebrities, all of them present courtesy of the Todoroki family. Izuku had only been given three last-minute invitations, and he used just one for Mrs. Hisakawa, his neighbor. Miss Sosaki and Manager Kamiji, unfortunately, declined his invitation, citing work commitments. Although their refusal had caused him some disappointment, he understood that attending the wedding of their boss’s son might have been uncomfortable for them.

His eyes focused on the table where his mother sat next to Mrs. Hisakawa. Both chatted happily alongside Uraraka, who was just listening. For a moment, he thought she wouldn’t come. After all, the omega had spent the last two days trying to contact Ochako without success. He wanted to apologize to her for what had (almost) happened, but all he received were brief messages saying she was busy, leaving him confused.

Suddenly, their eyes met. Izuku felt a flutter in his stomach, as if tiny butterflies were swirling inside him. Uraraka, noticing his gaze, quickly looked away, revealing her discomfort.

Izuku sighed, turning his head in the opposite direction. Beside him, Shoto had settled into his seat as soon as he arrived at the hall and had begun drinking without saying a word. Only when the alpha felt Izuku’s persistent gaze did he slowly look up. His expression was a mix of indifference and boredom.

"What?" Shoto said, not letting go of what seemed to be his tenth glass of champagne.

"Nothing, I was just... wondering if maybe you're drinking too much," Izuku murmured, receiving an annoyed look from the alpha. Before Shoto could respond, Fuyumi approached them, arm in arm with a man Izuku had only seen in photographs.

"Fuyumi," the omega greeted, standing from his chair to approach her.

"The ceremony was beautiful, Izuku! You looked stunning," she said, giving him a hug, which the omega gladly accepted. "I want to introduce you to my fiancé! Tensei Iida."

Fuyumi gestured toward the man beside her, a tall and elegant alpha who extended his hand with a friendly smile.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Izuku. Fuyumi has talked a lot about you over the past month," Tensei said, giving his fiancée a loving glance.

Izuku shook Tensei's hand with some shyness. Although he had heard stories about Fuyumi's fiancé, it was still hard for him to believe that someone could be as perfect as she described.

"Didn't I tell you? Tensei and I met thanks to our brothers," Fuyumi explained, before turning her gaze to her brother. "Remember those 'play dates' with little Tenya, Shoto?"

Shoto, who had remained silent until that moment, let out a grunt as he rolled his eyes.

"They weren't play dates; they were study sessions," he retorted, taking another sip from his glass.

Fuyumi ignored him and continued with determination.

"Anyway, why are the two of you sitting here? You should be interacting with the guests," Fuyumi turned to her brother again. "Shoto, stop drinking so much and take Izuku to meet everyone."

"You know this is nothing," the alpha huffed in annoyance, standing up from his seat. "And I need it to put up with all these people," he added, pulling Izuku towards him with unexpected force, making the omega place his hands on Shoto's chest to keep his balance. "No offense," he added, giving Tensei a look.

Tensei smiled and shook his head in understanding.

"I get it, Shoto. Sometimes people can be too much."

Fuyumi watched the interaction with a mix of amusement and concern. She stepped closer to Izuku and Shoto, smiling warmly.

"Well, I’m not going to get in your business, but remember to enjoy the evening. The wedding is for celebrating, not for being tense."

Shoto, still holding his champagne glass, cast a disdainful glance at the hall before focusing on Izuku.

"Let's go," he said with a sigh, firmly taking Izuku by the arm.

There were people who claimed that dominant traits made some individuals more tolerant to certain substances, Izuku wondered if that applied to Shoto and alcohol as well.

Since they had started walking among the guests, Shoto hadn’t left his side nor had he stopped drinking. Although Izuku hadn’t had many previous interactions with him, he knew from Fuyumi that her brother was a man of few words, someone who preferred action over conversation. However, that night was different. Seeing Shoto talk so much surprised him, and not in a pleasant way.

The words coming out of Shoto’s mouth were some of the most indecent he had heard in a long time. They were raw and direct, far from the reserved image Izuku had formed of him (at least in public, he already knew what the alpha was capable of saying when they were alone). Every sentence seemed to revolve around how eager he was to take him away and enjoy a "private party." The vulgarity of the comments themselves already made Izuku feel deeply uncomfortable, but the laughter and knowing remarks from others made it even worse. Hearing them talk so freely filled him with anger, at his dignity being trampled on with every word.

The worst part was that he wasn’t the only one noticing how inappropriate the situation was. Several guests looked at him with pity before quickly averting their gaze, clearly uncomfortable witnessing Shoto’s constant displays of affection, indifferent to the fact that they were in public.

At first, Izuku tried to endure it with a tense smile, but everyone has their limits. He had reached the point where he had to discreetly pull away each time he felt Shoto’s hand slide down to his backside, trying to maintain at least a shred of dignity in the middle of this awkward display, silently praying that his mother wouldn’t see the look of disgust on his face.

"Shoto..." he murmured, embarrassed, as he noticed Enji approaching them, visibly displeased.

"I’m just giving them what they want," Shoto replied, dropping the drunken tone he had been using.

Izuku had to fight to keep his composure as rage swirled inside him. That idiot had been humiliating him in front of everyone, pretending to be drunk when he was actually more sober than him. The feeling of being humiliated for others' entertainment infuriated him, but he knew he couldn’t afford to lose control, not here, and not with all those eyes on him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Enji muttered angrily, eyeing the spectacle his son had created.

"What are you talking about?" Shoto asked, slipping back into his drunken tone and pretending indifference as he continued to massage Izuku's hips.

"Everyone can see what you’re doing! Stop this indecent display immediately Shoto. You’re disgracing your name!" Enji hissed, his voice thick with barely contained fury. His eyes narrowed dangerously as his gaze shifted to Izuku, cutting through him like a sharp blade. "And you? Why the hell haven’t you been doing anything?!"

The question struck Izuku like a blow, shame and helplessness twisted in his chest, suffocating him as he lowered his head, unable to meet the cold disapproval in his father-in-law’s eyes.

"He... he doesn’t listen to me..." Izuku whispered, barely audible. But before he could finish, a soft whimper escaped his lips as Shoto tightened his grip, his touch becoming almost painful. The look the alpha shot at his father was laced with venom, a silent challenge shining in his heterochromic eyes.

"He's mine now," Shoto growled, his voice deep and rough with anger. "And if I want to, I’ll knot him right here, in front of everyone."

Izuku's heart stopped for a moment, fear rushing through his veins like ice. Shoto's words weren't just empty threats; they were a dark promise that made him shudder to his core. Desperate, he began to struggle, he pulled away in a futile attempt to escape as subtly as possible, all too aware of the many eyes settled on the confrontation. The air around him filled with Shoto's overpowering scent, an intoxicating mix that suffocated him, making him feel like he was trapped in a web that was quickly closing in on him.

"Are you challenging me?" Enji growled, his tone irritated and loaded with barely restrained fury that threatened to erupt at any moment. His eyes remained locked on his son, burning with anger, as if he were on the verge of breaking the chains that held him back.

Shoto didn’t flinch, his grip on Izuku as firm as a steel trap. A spark of defiance shone in his eyes, growing stronger with each passing second. "What do you think?" he responded coldly, making it clear he was ready to take this confrontation to its bitter end.

"Shoto, please!" Izuku begged, his voice desperate as his gaze swept across the room, acutely aware of the fixed stares of the guests and the whispers that were beginning to swell into an uncontrollable murmur. Humiliation burned on his skin, but what terrified him most was the growing sense that this situation was about to explode.

Helplessness wrapped around him like a suffocating, dark shadow. He wanted to intervene, to stop this madness before it was too late, but Shoto and Enji’s clashing scents filled his head with cotton and he knew the situation was hanging on by a single thread, and needed to be handled carefully and with grace, such things he knew he did not currently possess. No , he thought with hysteric amusement as his eyes blinked heavily and his knees quivered, those were things he didn’t think he’d be able to achieve until at least morning. . 

The atmosphere was so thick and heated with tension that was brought by the Alpha’s stand off, it felt like the air itself was about to  combust. The minutes stretched by  and just when Izuku thought he couldn’t bear it any longer, Fuyumi appeared, her face etched with concern, closely followed by Tensei and his younger brother, Tenya.

"Dad, Shoto, please…" Fuyumi murmured, her voice a pleading whisper trying to calm them. "Everyone is watching..."

"This is what he wanted, isn’t it, Dad?" Shoto replied, sarcasm and barely restrained anger dripping from his words as he kept his eyes fixed on Enji. Each word felt like a dagger aimed at his father.

"Shoto!" Fuyumi nearly yelled.

Paralyzed by discomfort, Izuku could only hope that his mother wouldn’t notice the scene unfolding. His heart pounded as he tried to ignore the curious stares and murmurs surrounding them.

"It seems your brother has had too much to drink," Enji spat, his voice as sharp as a blade, his eyes never left his son, but regardless, his next statement was clearly aimed for Izuku. "His omega should know it's his responsibility to monitor how much his alpha drinks. Perhaps you should take him to rest before he does something else to ruin the night even more."

Enji turned his back on them with a sharp turn and stalked angrily away from the small crowd that had gathered around them.

"Everything is fine," Tensei addressed the crowd tersely, trying to disperse the murmurs, "Please, continue enjoying the evening."

"Shoto, I think it would be a good idea for you to rest for a while," Fuyumi implored, as she gently tried to separate her brother from Izuku. "I’ll stay with Izuku. Alright?"

The alpha looked at his sister seriously, but her reassuring smile made him relent.

"Tenya, can you go with him? He’s had a bit too much to drink," Tensei asked his brother.

Tenya nodded seriously, giving Izuku a short sympathetic look before following Shoto toward the exit.

"I’m sorry about all this," Izuku said, looking at Fuyumi with a mix of apology and anxiety.

"Don’t worry, Izuku. Let’s stay here and try to enjoy the rest of the night," Fuyumi replied, trying to regain a sense of normalcy as the tension in the room slowly began to dissipate.

Fuyumi had chosen to lead the newlywed back to his mother’s table. The expression on the woman’s face was enough for the omega to know that his mother had witnessed the horrible scene.

"My brother was a bit... worked up, but everything’s fine now. We sent him to sleep."

Fuyumi’s nervous laugh didn’t fully convince her, so she looked at her son, who gave her a tense smile, assuring her that everything was fine.

Still seeing doubt in her eyes, Fuyumi decided to distract her by asking about the woman accompanying her.

"This is Mrs. Hisakawa, a friend from our old neighborhood," Izuku quickly explained.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, I’m Fuyumi, Izuku’s new sister," she introduced herself enthusiastically.

While the three older women chatted animatedly, Ochako couldn’t help but notice the unsettling silence surrounding Izuku. Ever since he had sat with them, he had barely said a word. His gaze was distant, and there was a tension in his shoulders that was impossible to miss. Worried, she moved closer to him, her heart racing at the possibility that something was wrong.

"Deku..." she began softly, leaning in a little to meet his eyes. "Is everything really okay?"

Izuku didn’t respond immediately. His lips pressed into a thin line, as if he was struggling to keep control. Finally, unable to hold Ochako’s gaze any longer, he averted his eyes to the floor.

"Fine..." he muttered, though his voice betrayed the truth he was trying to hide. A mix of uncertainty and anxiety crossed his face. After a moment of hesitation, he looked up and met Ochako’s eyes. "Can we... talk?" He paused, swallowing hard before adding in a barely audible tone, "In private."

Chapter Text

The damp night breeze hit Izuku's face as he stepped onto the balcony. He wrapped his arms around himself, trying to ward off the cold that seeped into his bones. In front of him, Hibiya Park was softly illuminated, the street lamps in the distance glimmering like fallen stars. The murmurs of the party faded behind him, muffled by the glass door.

He sighed, forming a small cloud of vapor before his lips. His eyes drifted from the scenery to the young woman beside him, who was quietly gazing at the horizon.

"Uraraka..."

"I didn’t say it earlier, but congratulations on your wedding. Young Todoroki is very handsome," Ochako interrupted, without taking her eyes off the view. "Just the prince you described."

Izuku forced a bitter smile, gripping the railing tightly.

"Sometimes princes... aren't what they seem..." he murmured, his voice breaking. "Did you see it?"

Ochako remained silent.

"Before meeting him, I had worked for horrible alphas," Izuku continued, his voice cracking, "but none of them ever made me feel like this... so small, so dirty..."

"Maybe it was the drinks, Deku..." She whispered hesitantly, her eyes turned with sympathy as she offered her small attempt at consolation.

"He wasn’t even drunk!" Izuku retorted through gritted teeth. "He just... just-"

The words got stuck in his throat. Suddenly, his legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, crouching, hugging himself as if trying to contain the pain tearing him apart.

"Deku!" Ochako exclaimed, alarmed, as she knelt beside him, wrapping her arms around him. "What's wrong, Deku? What's happening?"

"She doesn’t deserve this!" Izuku babbled, clinging desperately to the omega. "She doesn’t deserve what I’m doing to her!"

"Who?!"

"M-my mom!" the young man interrupted, gasping. "She’s given me everything, and I'm... I'm just deceiving her! I didn’t want this, Ochako, but I had no other way!"

"Deku, please. Breathe, okay?" Ochako asked, worried, releasing her scent in an attempt to calm the trembling young man in her arms. "What are you talking about? What is it...?"

"I didn’t want to marry Shoto!" Izuku finally shouted, startling Ochako, who pulled back to look him in the eyes.

"What?" Ochako murmured in concern. "B-but then why...? Did he force you?"

"Not…," Izuku shook his head, covering his face. "But if I didn’t, my mother..."

Izuku's words were cut off by the sound of the door opening. Both omegas turned toward it in alarm, seeing a hotel employee looking at them nervously.

"Uh... E-excuse me, Mr. Todoroki," the man stammered, averting his eyes at the sight of the two omegas crouched on the floor flushed faces wet with tears. "Your h-husband is waiting for you."

Izuku stifled a sob, feeling Ochako's hands tighten their grip around his. He turned to meet her worried gaze as she subtly shook her head, silently pleading with him not to go.

"I-I’ll be there in a moment,thank you." he stammered, wiping his tears as he stood on shaky legs. 

As the employee left, Ochako jumped to her feet, holding Izuku’s hands firmly.

"Don’t go," she begged. "Please, Izuku... stay here, stay with me..."

Izuku pressed his lips together, avoiding Ochako's pleading eyes.

"You know," he murmured, gently pulling his hands free, "I would have loved to have met you sooner."

"Izuku..."

Izuku didn’t say anything else; he simply turned and began to walk away. Ochako watched him leave, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, feeling the cold of the night settle within her.

Izuku's heart hammered as he waited in the elevator. He did his best to push Ochako's expression out of his mind; if he kept thinking about her, he was sure he would bolt.

The elevator doors opened before he was ready. His stomach churned as he hesitated to step out. He was afraid. He was not prepared for whatever would happen once he reached the suite where Shoto was waiting.

The idea of being alone with Shoto again made him tense. The last times they had been alone had been.. less than pleasant. It seemed the alpha had a distasteful penchant for humiliating him, but somehow, Shoto always stopped—whether because of his pride, Izuku's heat, or his sister’s presence.

But now it was different. Shoto had set aside his pride to humiliate him in front of everyone. Triggering another heat was inevitable, and this time Fuyumi wouldn’t be coming to interrupt.

Finally, he stepped out of the elevator just before the doors closed again. He let out a shaky sigh and began to walk slowly down the opulent hallway. He almost laughed bitterly at the sense of déjà vu; after all, just after being captivated by Ochako, he had walked this very hallway, stopping at the same door where he now stood, about to meet Shoto for the first time.

Izuku closed the door behind him, expecting the familiar and almost overwhelming scent of Shoto’s pheromones to engulf him immediately. But instead, all he found was deep darkness and an oppressive silence that filled the room. There was no trace of the alpha.

"S-Shoto?" he whispered, his voice trembling, with no answer in return.

He strained his eyes in the darkness, but everything was just as he remembered. He advanced cautiously, avoiding bumping into any furniture as he headed toward the main bedroom. There was nothing unusual about the suite meant for newlyweds: a large, perfectly made bed, a long sofa in front of the window, a table with carefully arranged drinks, and a large window that let in the pale light of the moon.

"Do you like it?"

Shoto's deep voice startled him, making Izuku give a small jump. The alpha was leaning against the wall behind him, watching him in silence. He had changed into a simple yukata that left part of his chest exposed, and he held a glass of alcohol in his hand. His eyes glowed in the darkness, fixed on his trembling prey.

Shoto advanced slowly toward him, and feeling his proximity, Izuku froze completely. The alpha's chest brushed softly against his back, and in that instant, a small electric shock ran through Izuku's body, from head to toe.

"Aren't you happy?" Shoto asked, his fingers slowly tracing along one of Izuku’s arms. "I let you enjoy the rest of your wedding. Don’t you think I deserve something in return?"

"Th-thank you..." Izuku croaked, trying to keep calm.

Shoto scoffed with disdain.

"Is that all? Is that how you thank your alpha? Try a little harder."

"What... what do you want?" Izuku asked, his voice trembling.

"What do you think?" the alpha replied, with a smile that Izuku could feel, even if he couldn’t see it.

Izuku clenched his fists helplessly. He wanted to protest, wanted to pull away, but he knew he was at Shoto’s mercy—his husband, his alpha.

Shoto watched the omega tilt his head, exposing the back of his neck in a clear sign of submission, which made a satisfied smile spread across his lips. The alpha leaned down, intending to inhale the omega’s tempting pheromones. However, instead of the expected delicate floral fragrance, his nose picked up an unusual scent of peaches.

The omega felt the alpha abruptly pull away from him. Izuku tilted his head, confused, meeting Shoto’s piercing gaze.

"W-what’s wrong?" Izuku asked, trying to hide his nervousness as he searched Shoto's eyes for some hint of what had triggered that reaction.

"Take a shower," the man ordered, heading to the couch. "I'll wait for you here."

Izuku looked at him in surprise. With a slight nod, he quickly walked toward the bathroom door.

"Come here," the alpha called, when he saw him emerge from the bathroom wrapped in a robe, eyes fixed on the floor. "Sit down," he added, motioning to the spot beside him with a nod. "I can’t do this if you keep trembling; you’re making me fucking nervous."

Izuku approached slowly and sat next to him, tense. Unlike before, he could now perceive the subtle scent of the alpha, a fragrance that blended with the room and seemed to have an unexpected effect on him. Still looking down, he nodded slowly as he settled into the sofa.

"Yes, yes, I’m sorry," Izuku responded, trying to calm himself. He took a few deep breaths, leaning fully back on the sofa.

Shoto got up and walked to the drinks table. "Want a drink?" he asked as he placed ice in a couple of glass tumblers. He then poured a pink liquid from a small bottle into Izuku’s glass.

The alpha heard a faint affirmation from Izuku as he prepared the drink. Once the color of the liquid was properly mixed, he walked back to the sofa and sat next to the omega, extending the glass to him.

His gaze remained focused on Izuku, who took a long sip of his drink and then grimaced.

"It tastes awful," he muttered with distaste, placing the glass on the side table beside him.

"Interesting," Shoto replied, taking a sip from his own glass. "This whiskey is sweet. If you pay attention, it has a slight rose aroma. That’s why I thought you’d like it—it smells a little like you, and I like how you taste," he added, giving him a deep look that sent a shiver through the omega.

"Are you going to keep mocking me?" Izuku asked, lowering his head and clutching the fabric of his robe. "Why don’t you just get on with whatever you have to do...?"

Shoto smirked. "I was going to, but you didn’t seem very certain a moment ago. And unlike some people, I’m not going to force you to do something you don’t want to."

"Sure," Izuku replied, bitter at the irony. "But that’s not what you thought before, is it?"

"Are you talking about what happened in your room?" Shoto asked, tilting his head. "I don’t remember you complaining—you were enjoying it, a lot," he continued, making Izuku frown in anger, "and I don’t think you want your wedding night to be just any fuck."

"I also didn’t want you to humiliate me in front of everyone! Or what? Did you think I was enjoying that too?"

"Stop throwing tantrums," Shoto replied, rolling his eyes in annoyance. "You want an apology for today? Fine, I’m sorry. Happy?" he said, standing up abruptly. "But remember whose fault it is that we’re here."

Izuku clenched his fists tightly. "You’re an idiot," he muttered in frustration.

"Pff! Why do you care? You’ll probably never see those idiots again. Besides, you should thank me," Shoto responded, releasing his scent to try to calm Izuku down. "Or don’t tell me you didn’t notice how all those alphas were looking at you?" he whispered, placing his arms on the back of the sofa to trap him, shifting the tone of his pheromones to something more sensual and hypnotic. "Everyone was staring at my pretty omega," he said, resting his hand on one of the omega’s thighs. "I’d bet everything I have that they’d die to be in my place," he murmured near his ear, "to be the one having you tonight..."

Izuku barely got his mouth open to protest before Shoto was placing warm, well placed marks down his neck and jaw, his lips hovering over his scent glands, effectively silencing him.

Izuku bit his lip as he closed his eyes, tilting his head to give the alpha more access. Shoto left a trail of kisses up to his ear.

"You’re all I’ve thought about since we met," he whispered softly.

Izuku’s mind was a mess. He couldn’t tell if the fact that Shoto was a dominant alpha was why he could so easily disarm him, or if it was simply that he needed this to happen to keep his mother safe.

"Don’t lie to yourself," whispered a small voice in his head. "You want this too."

Shoto pulled back slightly, giving Izuku a moment to breathe. The omega opened his eyes, noticing the desire in the alpha’s gaze. This could be his only chance to achieve his goal.

"I..." he hesitated, swallowing hard. His hands moved to the alpha’s chest, and as Shoto felt his touch, he let out a sigh. "Can you be gentle...?"

Shoto smiled, straightening up. "Tonight, I’ll do anything my omega asks," he replied, offering him one of his hands.

Izuku took it with a hint of doubt. He felt a gentle tug, pulling him up from the sofa, and with his hand entwined with Shoto’s, they both walked toward the bed.

The alpha gave him a gentle nudge to sit him down on the edge of the mattress.

"You have no idea how many times I’ve dreamed of you..." he said, cupping the omega’s face between his hands, bringing him close until their lips met in a kiss.

Izuku closed his eyes as he kissed him back. This kiss felt entirely different from the first one they had shared in his room. That one had been wild and demanding; this one, however, was soft and unhurried, as if nothing else in the world mattered at that moment. If Izuku didn’t know the truth, he might almost say there was something tender in Shoto’s touches.

He let out a sigh of desire as he felt Shoto’s pheromones envelop him warmly. He intertwined his hands behind the alpha’s neck, pulling him even closer.

As his body touched the mattress beneath him, Shoto broke the kiss, leaving small kisses along his chin until he reached the exposed skin of Izuku’s neck, making him tremble as Shoto’s lips left small red marks in their wake.

"Ngh, ahh!" Izuku moaned, feeling his skin tingle under Shoto’s smooth tongue.

"You smell so good..." the alpha murmured, sensing how Izuku was gradually releasing more of his pheromones, which began to stir his arousal. One of his hands pulled at the top of Izuku’s robe, revealing his chest, which was as flushed as his face, blending  with the pink hue of his nipples.

Wasting no time, Shoto lowered his head to Izuku’s chest, tracing the outline of his left nipple before giving it a few playful bites. A sharp moan escaped Izuku as he felt Shoto’s left hand pinch his free nipple.

As the alpha indulged in that part of his body, Izuku felt himself growing warmer. His entrance began to produce small amounts of slick, dripping down onto the bed.

"Sh-Shoto…" he said weakly, trying to get the other’s attention, though Shoto continued his sucking hungrily. "Ah, Shoto!" he tried again, this time taking his face to pull him away from his chest. "I-I... Is it okay if I adjust myself?" he asked timidly, noticing the hungry look Shoto was giving him.

Without a word, the alpha pulled back to let Izuku move. He shifted toward the center of the bed, and as soon as he settled, he felt the mattress dip under Shoto’s weight as he climbed over him to kiss him again.

Izuku tangled one of his hands in Shoto’s hair, clutching him as the intensity between their mouths quickly escalated. The kiss became deeper, more demanding, as the alpha’s tongue slipped into his mouth, brushing against his own with a mix of dominance and desire.

As their lips moved with urgency, Izuku felt Shoto’s hand slide slowly down the outside of his leg, tracing a path that made him shiver. Each soft brush of the alpha’s fingers drew small gasps and involuntary moans from his lips, which were trapped between their mouths.

While their lips remained connected, Shoto’s hand began to move up slowly, stopping just at the edge of his robe.

Izuku felt his breathing quicken as the alpha’s fingers slid higher, grazing his skin delicately.

"W-wait!" Izuku gasped, wrapping his hand around Shoto’s wrist, causing the alpha to stop and watch him in silence.

Perhaps he was being a bit dramatic—after all, Shoto had already seen him nearly naked. But that had been when he was on the edge of his heat with hormones running wild; now he was (mostly) clear-headed, and he felt like he could die of embarrassment.

Seeing the uncertainty on Izuku’s face, Shoto gave him a reassuring smile.

"Relax," he said, giving him a soft kiss on the cheek. "Don’t you want to be good for me?" he asked, brushing his lips against the omega’s ear.

Izuku bit his lip, tilting his head as he felt Shoto’s gentle kisses. Still a bit hesitant, he released the alpha’s hand and covered his eyes with his own, giving him complete freedom to continue.

Shoto didn’t waste a second. With fluid movements, he undid the knot of the robe, revealing Izuku’s body. Seeing his bare skin in the dim light, the alpha had to hold back a growl filled with desire.

Shoto let his gaze travel over the omega’s body, savoring every curve and detail. Though they had only just begun, Izuku already looked completely unraveled. His neck was covered in hickeys, perfectly complementing the marks around his chest. His nipples were red and swollen, making Shoto eager to taste them again as he watched them rise and fall with Izuku’s ragged breathing.

Without a hint of shame, he continued to admire the sensual omega beneath him, nearly salivating at the sight of his small cock leaking a poor excuse for cum.

Shoto truly hadn’t lied before. Ever since he first saw him, Izuku had been his most frequent erotic dream, and now, having him here at his mercy was a feast for his eyes.

The alpha moved his hand down to Izuku’s crotch, wrapping his small cock in his fingers. "You’re so small," he commented with a hint of amusement.

Izuku let out a sharp moan. He had touched himself a few times, but the feeling of someone else touching him in that way was completely different. He felt his eyes welling up as his body twisted under Shoto’s expert touch.

"Shoto, Shoto!" he cried out, dizzy as he felt the alpha’s hand grip him firmly.

"Are you close?" Shoto asked in a husky voice. "Come on, baby, tell your alpha what you want," he urged as he increased the pace of his hand. "Do you want to come?"

"Please, alpha, please!" he moaned loudly. "Ah, I-I need it, I…!"

Before he could finish the sentence, his orgasm hit him forcefully, making him arch as streams of cum spurted out, covering Shoto’s hand.

"Look at this mess," Shoto said with a light chuckle as he looked at his hand.

His attention returned to Izuku’s flushed face, who had collapsed with his eyes closed, trying to catch his breath. "Good omegas clean up what they mess up."

Still dazed from his orgasm, Izuku half-opened his eyes, looking at Shoto’s extended palm. His trembling hands brought it to his face, and he gave it a long lick, tasting himself between Shoto’s fingers.

"Fuck," Shoto groaned, thrilled by the sight. "You’re so fucking hot, baby," he said, pressing a kiss to his forehead before pulling back, kneeling on the bed. "How about I show you what a real cock is like, hmm?"

The alpha deftly untied the knot holding his yukata closed, letting it fall to the floor as he knelt completely naked before Izuku.

Izuku held his breath as his eyes roamed over the alpha. The only word that came to mind to describe him was “perfect.”

Shoto was muscular, but not excessively so—more proportionate and refined. His chest and abdomen were defined without being overwhelming, as if his body had been sculpted with precision. The muscles in his arms and shoulders displayed strength, though it didn’t seem like he had spent hours at the gym building volume; rather, his physique looked like the natural result of staying active. But all of that took a back seat when Izuku’s eyes drifted downward.

The size of his erection was almost exaggerated, even for an alpha. Shoto’s cock stood rigid and throbbing, veins winding along its thickness, while the swollen, reddened tip dripped with anticipation. Izuku gasped at the sight, becoming even wetter as he instinctively tried to close his legs, as if that could somehow stop the fluids from leaking out, soaking everything around him.

With his eyes still on the alpha’s cock, a terrifying thought crossed his mind: How could something like that even fit inside him? He knew it would stretch him far beyond what any toys he had bought could, making him scream in pain before eventually bringing pleasure. But something about that thought excited him. He was an omega; his body was designed to receive an alpha, even if it was his first time.

As the omega seemed on the verge of a mental collapse, Shoto gave an amused smile. If he had to compare Izuku to something, it would be a frightened little bunny in front of its predator—and oh, he wanted nothing more than to devour him.

"You’re like a scared little bunny," he murmured, breathing deeply as he savored the sweet scent emanating from between Izuku’s legs. "But don’t worry, I take good care of what’s mine, and now, you’re all mine."

"S-Shoto…" Izuku whimpered as Shoto gently took one of his hands, guiding it down, past his member that had awakened once more.

"Why don’t you open up for me, little bunny?" he asked in a sensual tone.

He continued moving his finger carefully, feeling the initial resistance gradually giving way as his body adapted. The pressure and sensation of stretching were intense, and he focused on maintaining a steady rhythm to avoid any discomfort. His breathing grew heavier, matching the pace of his movements. He felt a growing warmth as his muscles relaxed and adjusted.

Izuku took a moment to steady his breathing, preparing his body to add a second finger. Carefully, he slowly withdrew the first finger and, after wetting it again with his own essence, reinserted it along with the second. The sensation was more intense now, with increased pressure and resistance that required greater focus to manage.

The heat in his abdomen intensified, and his breathing grew heavier. Suddenly, he heard a low growl from Shoto. He opened his eyes slightly and turned his head toward him, finding the alpha with his gaze fixed on Izuku’s fingers as he touched himself almost desperately.

"Keep going!" Shoto panted, gritting his teeth.

The sight of Shoto, clearly caught up in his own pleasure, encouraged Izuku to continue with greater determination. Izuku adjusted the rhythm of his movements, adding a third finger, which elicited a deep moan from him. The sensation of three fingers working inside him caused his moans to grow louder, blending with the sounds coming from Shoto.

Suddenly, Shoto stopped. He approached Izuku with a determined and urgent expression. With a firm hand, he halted the movement of Izuku's fingers and looked into his eyes. Taking his small hand, he brought the fingers that had been inside him to his mouth and began to lick them. Once satisfied, he removed them from his mouth and left a gentle kiss on his hand.

"Ready?" he asked, releasing a trembling sigh as he spread Izuku's legs to position himself between them.

"P-please, go slow…" the omega requested nervously, wrapping his arms around Shoto's shoulders, pulling him closer until their chests pressed together.

Shoto nodded as he took his hard erection and guided it toward the omega's entrance.

Izuku let out a hiss of pain as he felt the head of Shoto’s cock slowly begin to stretch him open. His nails dug into the alpha’s shoulders with force as he felt tears start to roll down the sides of his flushed face. His ears began to buzz, blocking out whatever Shoto was murmuring as he left soft kisses along his face and neck.

A sob escaped him as he felt the burning sensation of his insides stretching around Shoto, who was moving slowly within him. The feeling of stretching and the sting were intense, and it felt like an eternity as his body adjusted to the penetration.

"You’re doing so well, baby, so fucking well," Shoto moaned, delighting in the warmth of Izuku’s walls around him.

Shoto wanted to keep going slowly, but when he was just halfway in, the tension was too much, and suddenly, he thrust in deeply. Izuku let out a scream of pain at the unexpected thrust, his nails digging even deeper into Shoto’s shoulders as his body shook beneath him.

Fresh tears began to slide down Izuku’s cheeks as he writhed under Shoto. The pain was sharp, his body tense, trying to adapt.

"Shh, it’s okay," Shoto whispered, lowering his head to leave more soft kisses along the omega’s neck and face, trying to soothe him as he stayed deep within him. "Relax, baby… almost there…" he murmured, his voice strained with the pleasure of feeling Izuku’s involuntary contractions around him.

Izuku breathed heavily, trying to do as Shoto asked. Despite the intense burning inside, he focused on relaxing the muscles of his body, feeling the alpha remain still for a moment, allowing his body to adjust.

Shoto took one of the omega’s trembling hands, guiding it slowly to his own abdomen.

"Feel..." he whispered in a husky voice.

Izuku, still panting, noticed what Shoto wanted to show him. Beneath his skin, he could feel the bulge caused by the alpha's erection deep inside him. His fingers brushed over the swelling in his abdomen, feeling how Shoto’s length filled him completely.

"I-it feels strange… it hurts," Izuku said in a faint voice.

Shoto, still breathless, smiled softly and lowered his head to place another kiss on his forehead. "But you’re doing so well…" he murmured, his voice thick with desire as he kept Izuku’s hand firmly on his abdomen. "My precious omega... you feel amazing, so tight for me…"

Izuku closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing and focus on the sensations coursing through his body. The pain was still there, but slowly, his body was beginning to adapt to Shoto’s presence inside him. He held onto Shoto’s hand on his abdomen, seeking comfort as he tried to relax.

Suddenly, he felt Shoto’s fingers slide down, finding his erection, still tense and throbbing. Izuku let out a faint moan as Shoto wrapped his hand around his length, beginning to stroke it gently.

"Do you like it, honey?" Shoto whispered, his voice husky, as his movements on Izuku’s member grew steadier, all while staying deeply inside him.

Izuku couldn’t respond with words; his gasps and moans were the only answers he could give as his body responded to the pleasure.

Shoto noticed how he was starting to relax beneath him, giving in to the pleasure. His strokes on the omega’s length became more purposeful, moving up and down its entire length while his thumb brushed over the tip, causing Izuku’s moans to grow more intense.

"That’s it… relax, baby," Shoto murmured, his own voice ragged with panting. He was intoxicated by the sensation of having Izuku so vulnerable, so open for him. His hips began to move again, this time with more control, sliding in and out slowly while he continued stroking the omega’s erection.

"Sh-Shoto…"

Shoto smiled slightly upon hearing his name and leaned down to kiss Izuku’s neck, tracing gentle lines on his skin with his tongue as he continued his slow, deep movements inside him.

Little by little, Izuku was becoming more vocal. His back arched involuntarily, pressing his body even closer to Shoto's as his hips tried to match the desperate rhythm of the thrusts. The alpha released his cock to grip Izuku’s hips, making the sound of their bodies colliding even louder.

With a heavy sigh, Shoto pulled away slowly. The omega let out a whimper of protest, his body trembling from the sudden loss of warmth inside him.

"Easy there, little bunny. Come on, turn around, let me see that pretty ass again," Shoto murmured playfully, shifting Izuku's body to position him on all fours.

Izuku moaned eagerly as he adjusted to the new posture. The sensation of being fully exposed and at Shoto's mercy made him feel both vulnerable and excited. His mind was clouded with desire and anticipation, his stifled moans a clear indication of his state.

Shoto positioned himself behind him, running his hand along Izuku’s smooth back until he reached his rear. With a grin, he spread Izuku’s cheeks, delighting in the view of his exposed and throbbing entrance.

"Mmm, that’s it, little bunny. You’re so ready for me," the alpha murmured in a voice thick with desire, his fingers teasing the opening, feeling it contract around his touch.

"Please, Shoto…! Ahh!" Izuku moaned, desperate, feeling his body simultaneously tense and relax in response to Shoto’s teasing.

"So needy," Shoto mocked as he once again aligned his cock with the omega's swollen entrance, rubbing the tip against it, drawing out more gasps and sighs from his omega.

Shoto took his time to savor Izuku’s reactions, moving the head of his cock slowly, pressing gently against the omega’s entrance. He leaned closer, feeling the heat and moisture of Izuku’s body against his skin. Every subtle touch against the omega’s opening elicited a series of breathy moans and gasps that Shoto found incredibly arousing.

"Please, alpha, please!" Izuku cried out desperately.

Shoto let out a laugh full of satisfaction, aligning his erection with Izuku’s swollen entrance and, without warning, thrust in forcefully.

Izuku let out a cry of surprise and pleasure, his body arching under the force of the penetration. His hands gripped the sheets desperately, trying to keep his balance as waves of sensations washed over him. His breathing grew more erratic, followed by intense moans and sobs that slipped from his lips. The feeling of being filled completely made his skin prickle, and each deep thrust from Shoto seemed to push him further down into the mattress.

"Ahh, Shoto, please!" the omega cried, his voice breaking from the pleasure. "Don’t stop, please!"

With a mocking smile and a glint in his eyes, Shoto leaned forward, increasing the strength and speed of his thrusts. The sensation of being fully inside Izuku drove him to a state of ecstasy.

"Keep begging for it," Shoto panted with a commanding tone as he maintained his relentless rhythm. "I want to hear you beg more, little bunny."

Completely surrendered to the pleasure, Izuku begged with even more desperation. He was fully immersed in the moment. His body moved in sync with Shoto’s rhythm, and his moans grew louder and more desperate, laden with a nearly wild, primal need.

"Ahh, Shoto, please!" Izuku cried, his voice broken and pleading. "Do it harder, faster, knot me!"

Each of Shoto’s thrusts pushed him closer to climax, and his words mixed with incoherent moans as the pleasure overwhelmed him. Izuku’s skin was slick with sweat, and his tears blended with the dampness of his body.

Shoto closed his eyes briefly, feeling a tingling in his gums. He let out a breath and began licking the back of Izuku’s neck with an almost animal intensity.

"So close… you’re so good, baby, holding me so tight…" the alpha panted, sending a tickling sensation down Izuku’s neck.

"A-alpha! Fill me, alpha!"

Shoto was close; he could feel his knot beginning to swell inside Izuku, making it harder to keep up the rhythm.

Finally, with one last violent, deep thrust, he came inside Izuku, sinking his fangs into the omega’s nape with force.

Izuku let out a strangled cry as his body shook violently. The pleasure of being completely filled by Shoto, combined with the bite on his nape, made him cum hard, shooting thick streams onto the sheets beneath them.

Completely drained, the omega collapsed onto the mattress, exhausted, feeling Shoto continue with a few shallow thrusts.

Each movement filled the omega so completely that he could feel his stomach swelling and warming with the semen inside him. He tried to push Shoto away, but his hand lacked the strength to move.

He panted, closing his eyes as fatigue washed over his body.

When Shoto finished emptying himself, he lifted himself slowly, running a hand over his sweat-slicked forehead to push back his hair.

"Hey," he called, moving Izuku’s head slightly, realizing that he had passed out from the effort.

With a heavy sigh, the alpha lay down beside the omega, still joined to him by the swollen knot inside him.

He waited patiently for about twenty minutes until he felt the knot deflate enough to pull away from Izuku, who whimpered at the loss of the alpha inside him. He gave the omega one last look, noticing the way the semen trickled from his entrance, before heading to the bathroom in exhaustion.

Shoto turned on the shower and stepped under the stream of hot water, feeling it ease his tired body. As the warmth fell over him, his mind replayed Izuku’s sounds and expressions of pleasure over and over.

The alpha clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and his teeth ground together under the pressure of his anger. His original plan hadn’t been to knot Izuku, or even to fuck him; in truth, he had hoped to keep the situation under control. But that damned peach scent—a smell that didn’t belong to the omega and had invaded his senses—triggered an uncontrollable fury in him, leading him to completely lose his composure.

"Damn it!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the bathroom. "Damn it, damn it, damn it!"

And as if that weren’t enough, there was the omegas pathetic attempt at pretending to be a virgin.

That act almost fooled him.

Chapter Text

Izuku's eyes slowly opened, struggling to adjust to the sunlight filtering through the curtains. He shifted under the sheets, stretching his arms lazily as he murmured to himself.

"What time is it…?" he whispered, his voice still heavy with sleep.

He remained still for a moment, enjoying the warmth of the sheets. He blinked several times, trying to focus as his gaze wandered around the room slowly. Something was wrong—this wasn’t his room.

His body tensed immediately, and without thinking, he shot up in the bed. A pained groan escaped his lips as a sharp ache shot through his lower body. With trembling hands, he lifted the sheets covering him, and the air caught in his throat when he realized he was completely naked.

His breathing quickened, and before he could panic, the memories of the previous night flooded his mind, leaving him paralyzed. It all came rushing back: the sounds, the touches… Shoto.

Izuku swallowed hard, feeling heat rise to his face. Carefully, he lay back down, this time on his side. His trembling hand slowly moved toward his entrance. He barely dared to move, his chest rising and falling rapidly as shame began to consume him. When his fingers touched something wet and sticky, he froze.

"God…" he whispered, a lump forming in his throat.

He glanced around the room, making sure he was completely alone. Even so, he awkwardly wrapped himself in the sheet before limping toward the bathroom.

He turned on the bathtub, watching as the water slowly filled the space. While he waited, he approached the mirror, and what he saw made him stop in his tracks. His reflection didn’t lie—he looked like someone who had just gone through an intense night.

Bite marks covered his chest, and his nipples, red and sensitive, stung at the slightest touch.

Izuku frowned as he felt a wetness in his groin that caught his attention. He looked down, only to see more of the whitish fluid slowly dripping down his thighs.

The discomfort drove Izuku to move toward the tub, sinking into the hot water in an attempt to find some relief. As the water enveloped his body, his thoughts were in chaos. He didn’t know what was worse: having his first time with someone he despised or realizing that, in the heat of the moment, he had enjoyed it so much that he had begged Shoto to go harder.

He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself as he sank deeper into the hot water. With one hand, he began to massage his shoulder, seeking to ease the tension. Slowly, his hand descended to his flat abdomen. He wondered, absently, vaguely worried, if one time had been enough to get him pregnant.

"I definitely felt his knot," he murmured to himself. "God.. I don’t know if I can handle something like that again. He’s… huge."

As he remembered the alpha, an erection began to grow between his legs. Izuku slid a hand toward his member, closing his eyes as he began to stroke himself slowly.

The memories of the night with Shoto played vividly in his head. He could almost hear the alpha's satisfied growls echoing in his ears, blending with the sound of his ragged breathing. He imagined Shoto’s hands exploring his body, pressing and discovering every inch. His warm, demanding lips had kissed him with such passion, and the feeling of his breath on his skin still sent shivers down his spine.

He remembered every phrase the alpha had whispered in his ear, telling him how much he wanted him, praising him for how well he was doing, how much he was enjoying him…

"Mmm… ah!" he moaned, slipping his fingers into his mouth to muffle the sounds. He was extremely sensitive; every movement of his hand made him tremble, imagining it was Shoto’s hand instead. He let go of his erection and, carefully, turned around in the tub, getting on his knees with his head resting against the tiled wall.

"Shit… Shoto…" he whispered as he slid three fingers inside himself.

He felt the remnants of semen sliding between his fingers as they moved, trying to mimic the sensual sway of his alpha’s hips. He wanted him so badly that he could almost imagine him standing in front of him, with those eyes that seemed to devour him and that stupid mocking smile that made his knees weak.

"Go faster, little bunny," he heard him say seductively in his mind, making him quicken his pace.

"Shoto... faster..." he whispered. He was so close that he couldn’t hold back his sobs anymore. Within minutes, a cry escaped his lips as his orgasm hit him hard.

Izuku managed to sit back as best he could, trying to avoid his trembling limbs from causing him to hit the tub. He rested his head on the edge and closed his eyes, trying to catch his breath while the aftershocks still shook his body.

"I wonder… where was all that initiative yesterday?"

Izuku’s eyes flew open as he let out a startled squeak. His head snapped toward the door, where Shoto was leaning with his arms crossed, watching him intently with a raised eyebrow.

"W-what are you doing here?! Get out!" he exclaimed, splashing water at him while covering his chest, his face turning completely red.

"I was about to wake you up, but you were already out of bed, then I heard you in here having fun and thought I’d take a look," he replied nonchalantly.

"Y-you’re a pervert!" Izuku shouted, full of embarrassment.

"You were the one screaming my name," he scoffed. "But you shouldn’t be embarrassed, little bunny, it’s normal to feel that needy," he said, walking toward the tub. "Have you seen the pretty mark I gave you?" The omega looked at him, confused, as Shoto gave him a mocking smile and moved his hand to Izuku’s nape. "Here."

The omega stifled a gasp, pulling away from Shoto’s touch. His fingers urgently reached for his neck, and he felt it.

A mating mark.

His frightened gaze returned to the alpha’s face, who was watching him expectantly.

"Y-you… Why…? You marked me!"

"What was I supposed to do? Or were you expecting someone else to do it?" he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"No, of course not!" Izuku shouted, furious. "But you should have asked me first!"

"What are you talking about? I’m your husband now, remember? You’re mine."

Izuku pressed his lips together. Shoto was right. But that only made him feel worse. The alpha had treated him horribly, and now, with that mark, he felt more vulnerable than ever.

For his part, Shoto was enjoying every emotion crossing his omega’s face as he tried to process what had happened. The sight of Izuku’s eyes welling up with helplessness made him want to take him again.

"What’s the matter, sweetheart?" Shoto asked in a low voice. "This is what you signed up for, isn’t it?"

The omega clenched his fists as his body began to tremble, a lump forming in his throat.

Yes, he had signed, but this wasn’t what he wanted. He was only supposed to carry this idiot’s child. And since the place they were moving to was big enough, he had hoped he could keep as much distance from Shoto as possible.

But now, every part of him was tied to this man who one day looked at him with disdain and the next couldn’t seem to keep his hands off him.

"You’d better hurry," Shoto said, standing up and walking toward the door. "We have to go; I’ll wait for you outside."

Izuku watched him leave in silence. The thought of spending more time with the alpha filled him with terrible confusion and emotional exhaustion. Shoto acted as if everything in his life was continuing as normal, while Izuku felt like his world was falling apart.

With a heavy sigh, he slowly got out of the tub. He had to face him once more; after all, this was his new life.

****

"What’s this? I thought we weren’t having a honeymoon," Izuku asked, watching as the hotel staff loaded a couple of suitcases into the trunk of the car waiting at the entrance.

"That’s correct, but I have business to attend to in Kyoto," Shoto replied without looking at him.

"I see," Izuku murmured, holding back the urge to smile.

He hoped Shoto would be gone for many, many days so he could take a break from him and relax. Maybe he could stay with his mother and celebrate her birthday with her. He’d invite Fuyumi and her fiancé and… Ochako!

Panic hit him immediately. No, no, no... How could he be so stupid?! Instead of apologizing for what had happened with her, he had ended up breaking down in front of Ochako, tearfully confessing that he didn’t want to get married.

What if she’s already told Mom everything? he thought in terror.

He got into the car clumsily, his hands trembling as he searched for his phone among the things they had given him. He needed to talk to Ochako… He had to make sure she hadn’t told his mom anything!

"What’s wrong with you?" Shoto’s voice cut through his thoughts.

"M-my phone! I can’t find it; I need to call Ura… I-I mean, my mom," he said, turning to look at him anxiously. "C-could you drop me off with her?”

The alpha frowned at him, seemingly aware that this omega forgot that now, being bonded, he could sense even a hint of the emotions Izuku was trying to hide from him.

"No," he said firmly, holding back his irritation.

"Shoto!"

"We’re already late, Izuku. We’re not taking a detour."

"Please. I need to talk to her. It’s urgent," he insisted, almost desperate.

"If it’s urgent, use mine," he snapped, pulling out his phone and holding it out to him. When Izuku didn’t take it, he huffed in annoyance, putting it away again. "Fine, then wait until we get to the airport."

"What? No! There’s no need for me to go with you all the way there. If you want, just drop me off near a train station."

"Why the hell would I do that? Just wait until we arrive."

"But Shoto! I really need to—"

"Enough, Izuku!" the alpha finally yelled, exasperated. "What the hell are you talking about?! The only damn place you’re going is Kyoto with me!”

Izuku fell silent immediately. Shoto’s shout felt louder than any blow he had ever received in his life. His hands clung to his knees as his shoulders trembled slightly.

"S-sorry…" he stammered softly, lowering his head.

He felt the lump in his throat grow, making it hard to breathe normally. The heat of tears began to build in his eyes, threatening to overflow.

He desperately tried to hold them back, not allowing them to fall. He didn’t want to cry. Not in front of him. He didn’t want to appear even weaker than he already felt.

Shoto rolled his eyes in annoyance and clicked his tongue, irritated. He tried to suppress the emotions radiating from Izuku through their bond. He heard a small hiccup escape from the omega but chose to ignore it, staring out the window as if nothing had happened.

Don’t look at him, he told himself. Don’t fall for it.

Sero yawned as he waited patiently on the airport runway, hands in his pockets. He still couldn’t believe that Shoto would rather work the day after his wedding instead of lazing around like any normal person would.

"Seriously, who gets married and the next day is already ready to deal with business matters?" he muttered to himself, shaking his head and letting out a disbelieving laugh.

He glanced at his watch once more impatiently before looking up, just in time to see a luxurious car approaching slowly to where he stood. He recognized the vehicle immediately.

"About time!" he exclaimed as he saw Shoto step out of the car, adjusting his jacket with a nonchalant air. "I’ve been here for more than an—”

The words died in Sero’s throat as he saw Izuku step out of the car as well. The omega walked with his head down and noticeably red eyes, as if he had been crying. Surprised, Sero shot his boss a questioning look, waiting for an explanation.

"Get on," the alpha ordered Izuku.

The omega nodded silently, without even raising his head, and began walking toward the airplane stairs with slow steps.

Sero observed the scene in complete silence. Once Izuku disappeared into the plane, he finally dared to ask:

"Is he okay? Why did you bring him?" he said. This was a business flight; it made no sense for Izuku to be there, especially not in that state.

"Because he’s my husband," Shoto replied indifferently.

"I know that," the beta retorted, rolling his eyes. "What I mean is, why did you bring him now? You were the one who insisted on scheduling this trip specifically to avoid dealing with him."

Shoto was silent for a moment, as if evaluating how much he should say. Finally, he sighed and looked at Sero with a serious expression.

"Things changed… I marked him."

"You what?!" Sero exclaimed, stunned. His eyes widened, and his voice rose before dropping sharply at the warning look Shoto shot him. Swallowing hard, he continued in a lower tone, "I thought you weren’t going to do that. You said you wouldn’t!"

"I changed my mind," Shoto replied tensely, his jaw clenching. "So, for now, we can’t be too far from each other."

Sero stared at him in disbelief, processing what he had just heard. He knew that marking an omega was a serious matter. And given the position they were both in, it was even more so. Now, everything would become far more complicated and especially dangerous for Shoto.

"Well, I hope you know what you’re doing," Sero finally commented, letting out a heavy sigh. It wasn’t his place to meddle in Shoto’s personal affairs, but he couldn’t help but worry.

"I do," the alpha stated firmly, walking toward the plane.

Sero watched as his boss walked away. Something didn’t add up, something was wrong, but he knew Shoto too well to insist. If Shoto Todoroki said he had made a decision, there was no turning back.

---

Despite having always dreamed of flying on a plane, Izuku didn’t enjoy his first time in the air in the slightest. He was uncomfortable, both physically and emotionally. He had chosen the seat farthest from Shoto, seeking solace in the view offered by the window. But even the scenery, which normally would have fascinated him, couldn’t distract him from the bitter taste left by their argument in the car.

From time to time, he could feel the alpha’s gaze on him. However, every time Izuku mustered enough courage to look back, he found Shoto distracted, engrossed in a conversation with Sero.

Izuku closed his eyes for a moment, trying to convince himself that things would get better, that it was just a matter of adapting to this new life.

The time in the air passed in the blink of an eye, and less than two hours later, they landed in Kyoto.

Shoto hadn’t bothered to wait for him as they walked toward the car already waiting for them. As if Izuku didn’t exist, he had gone ahead, absorbed in his own matters. Instead, it was Sero who helped him open the door, offering a slightly awkward smile.

The omega climbed in silently, his head down, feeling more invisible than ever.

"S-Shoto…" Izuku murmured, timidly calling the alpha’s attention, who was engrossed in his tablet, reviewing some documents.

The alpha hummed in response, not bothering to look up, signaling that he was listening.

"I was wondering if we could eat something…"

"Eat something at the hotel when we get there," Shoto murmured, still not looking up from what he was doing.

Izuku lowered his head even further, biting his lip to contain the frustration that washed over him.

"Don’t be like that, Todoroki," Sero said, glancing briefly at Izuku through the rearview mirror, his withdrawn posture evoking a hint of pity. "I’m hungry too; you made me wait for hours at the airport."

Shoto lifted his gaze for a moment, locking eyes with Sero in the mirror, shooting him a piercing look that would have intimidated anyone. But the beta remained unfazed; he knew Shoto well enough not to be intimidated by his temper.

Shoto let out an irritated sigh.

"Fine," he said curtly, casting a fleeting glance at Izuku. "Happy?"

The omega chose not to respond. Instead, he offered a small grateful smile to Sero, who returned the gesture with a wink of solidarity.

Izuku remained fascinated as the woman guided them to their room. Everything seemed completely surreal. First, they had arrived at a small dock on the shores of the Oigawa River. An elegant private boat had transported him and Shoto to the entrance of the luxurious Hoshinoya ryokan.

Everything seemed so expensive that he tried not to step too hard on the tatami mats, fearing he might damage them with his weight.

As they crossed the threshold of the suite, Izuku noticed how the woman gave them a deep bow, wishing them a pleasant stay. Shoto responded with a brief nod, while Izuku bowed even deeper, trying to hide his excitement and admiration.

"We hope you enjoy your stay with us," the guide said respectfully before leaving them at their door.

Shoto opened the door, letting him go in first. The omega stepped inside, his wide eyes taking in every detail of the suite with fascination. The tatami mats were impeccably laid out, and the furniture, made of fine wood with intricate details, looked like something out of a dream.

"It’s incredible!" Izuku exclaimed, turning toward his husband with an expression of pure admiration. The room seemed straight out of a fairytale, and he couldn’t help but feel like a child in a candy store.

"It has to be; this is one of the most expensive ryokan."

Izuku approached the sliding windows that opened to a zen garden, impeccably maintained and surrounded by rocks and ornamental plants. The view was so peaceful that he could almost forget the horrible past 48 hours of his life.

"It’s truly impressive," Izuku said, trying to hide his enthusiasm so as not to seem too excited.

"It is," Shoto agreed, moving closer to his omega, lowering the collar of his shirt and letting his fingers gently trace the mark on his nape. "So, so pretty."

Izuku froze, feeling Shoto corner him against the window. The alpha buried his nose in his hair, deeply inhaling the scent radiating from him.

"How should we enjoy ourselves here, hmm?" Shoto asked in a low voice, leaving soft kisses behind Izuku’s ear. "Why don’t you show me again what you were doing in the bathroom earlier, little bunny?”

The omega stifled a small gasp as he felt the mark on his nape begin to throb, responding to the electrifying tone of his alpha's voice. Although he was still resentful of how Shoto had treated him, his body seemed to have quickly forgotten any grievance. Without realizing it, he moved his hips back, pressing against his husband’s hard erection.

"N-now?" he asked timidly, as heat began to rise through his body. "B-but we did it last night, and... it still hurts a little."

"It didn’t seem to hurt this morning, baby," Shoto chuckled, beginning to grind against the omega. "That was so hot.”

Before Izuku could respond, Shoto grabbed his chin and tilted it to the side. Without wasting any time, he kissed him intensely. Shoto’s tongue entered Izuku’s mouth urgently, moving dominantly and exploring every corner.

The omega moaned against Shoto’s lips, trying to keep up with the frantic pace of the kiss. Somehow, he managed to turn around to face him, wrapping his arms around Shoto’s neck, seeking support to keep himself from collapsing to the floor.

Shoto pulled him tighter against his body, Izuku could easily feel his erection pressing against his abdomen as his hand slid down his back.

"Nghh," the omega whimpered as he felt Shoto’s hand firmly grabbing his backside.

"Maybe, if it really hurts…" the alpha murmured between breaths. "You can use that pretty mouth of yours," he added, playfully sliding his tongue over Izuku’s swollen lips.

Izuku swallowed hard, hiding his face against Shoto’s chest, overwhelmed by the situation.

There was no way he could do it. He already knew how big Shoto was, how deep and stretched he could leave him…

"I-I can’t…" he whispered, lifting his head slightly. "It won’t fit…"

"Really?" Shoto said in a seductive tone. "Let’s see if I can change your mind. You just have to relax here," he continued, moving his hand to wrap around Izuku’s slender throat, sending a shiver down his spine. "But before you lose your voice, call your mom.”

Izuku looked at Shoto in surprise as the alpha stepped back a few paces and pulled a phone from his pants pocket.

"T-that’s mine!" he exclaimed, trying to snatch the device from his hands. "Why do you have it?! Give it back!"

The alpha watched the desperate look on the omega’s face as he tried to retrieve his phone. For a moment, the urge to keep teasing Izuku crossed his mind. He loved seeing the expressions Izuku made when he felt cornered. But for now, he had more important things to do.

"Calm down, calm down," Shoto said, letting go of his neck. "Here it is."

Izuku huffed angrily, snatching the phone from his hands. He shoved Shoto out of his way and stomped off to the bedroom, his steps heavy with frustration.

"Stupid idiot!" he muttered through gritted teeth, unlocking the cracked screen of his phone as he flopped onto the futon. "He drags me here, yells at me, mocks me… he’s a stupid, arrogant, good-for-nothing idiot…”

"I love you too."

Izuku jumped at the sound of Shoto’s voice coming from the bathroom door. Furious, he grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him with all his strength, hitting him square in the back. Shoto simply ignored the gesture and walked into the bathroom, leaving Izuku alone with his frustration.

"I should’ve thrown a damn lamp at him," he muttered, pressing the old phone to his ear.

He waited patiently for someone on the other end of the line to answer, but there was no response. He tried a couple more times, with the same result. Desperate, he called Ochako directly, but his call was immediately rejected.

"No, no, no, where did they go?" he mumbled nervously, biting his nails anxiously. "What do I do? Maybe…”

He quickly scrolled through his few contacts until he found the name he needed. He selected the contact and waited, praying that someone would answer this time. A couple of rings later, a familiar voice came through on the other end of the line.

"Hello?"

"Fuyumi!" Izuku exclaimed, relieved.

"Izuku! How are you? Did you make it to Kyoto?"

"Yes, yes! We arrived about an hour ago. But, Fuyumi, can I ask you a big favor?"

"Of course, but is everything okay? You sound upset. Aren’t you with Shoto?"

Izuku tried to calm himself, taking a deep breath before responding.

"Everything is perfect! It’s just that I’ve been trying to contact my mom, but she’s not answering. Not even Uraraka. Could you please try to find out where they are for me? I’m really worried.”

"Oh, don’t worry!" Fuyumi replied calmly. "They’re fine. In fact, they’re with me. We came to drop off some gifts and the rest of your belongings at your new home. I hope you don’t mind. Your house is beautiful!"

"My ho…?" Izuku took a moment to make the connection. "Ah, yes, of course! Don’t worry, that’s fine," he exclaimed, understanding what she meant. She was referring to his new home with Shoto. Despite feeling a knot in his stomach, he cleared his throat before continuing. "S-so, can I speak to them? Please…"

"Of course! Just give me a moment."

Izuku breathed a small sigh of relief. If they were dropping off his belongings, he could relax a bit. Surely, Ochako hadn’t told his mom anything.

While he waited, he could hear muffled voices in the background, though he couldn’t make out what they were saying. He wondered what they were doing and why Fuyumi knew exactly where they were.

"Hello, Izuku?"

"Mom! Thank God…" he said, letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. "I was so worried about you!”

"Oh, sweetheart, calm down!" his mother replied cheerfully. "We’ve been with Fuyumi almost all day, and since there were still some of your boxes at home, we decided to bring them over and help organize while you’re out of town," she explained in a calm voice.

Izuku frowned, surprised.

"H-how did you know we weren’t in Tokyo?" he asked curiously. "I just found out this morning and was planning to tell you right now."

"Well, Shoto called very early and asked us to send over a suitcase. He said it was a surprise gift," she recounted with a playful tone.

The omega turned his gaze toward the bathroom door. He could hear the shower running. Would the sound of the water drown out the crime that was taking shape in his head? Either way, it was likely Shoto had already gotten what he needed from him. So, living as the widower of a millionaire while raising his baby sounded like a perfectly viable option.

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a sharp sting in his neck. He reached for the area of the mating mark, trying to soothe the burning sensation as he let out a painful hiss.

"Izuku, what’s wrong? Are you okay?" he heard his mother’s worried voice.

"Y-yeah, yeah," he muttered through gritted teeth, trying to steady his breathing. "I’m just a bit tired, you know?"

"Oh, of course, I understand, sweetheart," Inko said knowingly. "I’m sure you had a busy night—you even left without saying goodbye to me."

"T-that’s not it!" he exclaimed, embarrassed, feeling his face flush furiously at his mother’s insinuations.

"Calm down, son, I know how newlyweds are. You should’ve seen your father and me…"

"I don’t want to hear it!" he shrieked, scandalized. "Please… I just wanted to make sure you were okay, all right? Uraraka wasn’t answering me either, so I feared the worst.”

"Don’t worry, sweetheart. We’re both fine. I was the one who asked Ochako not to answer your calls. Enjoy your time with Shoto and forget about us for a while," she insisted before adding, "But not too much—I’m still too young to be a grandmother."

"Mom!"

"Just kidding," his mother laughed on the phone. "Now I’m going to hang up. We’ve talked enough. Enjoy your trip and don’t call unless it’s an emergency. If you do, we’ll hang up. Understood?"

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say."

Izuku sighed as he ended the call. Although he couldn’t speak to Ochako, at least he now knew she hadn’t told his mother anything. However, the fact that Shoto had contacted her in the morning didn’t sit well with him at all.

He lay back on the futon, staring at the ceiling.

Shoto had mentioned that he had important commitments in Kyoto, and from the little Izuku had gathered from his conversation with Sero, they would be high-level meetings. He would probably spend a lot of time on those matters, leaving Izuku alone at the ryokan. While he wasn’t complaining, the idea of being alone for so long frustrated him. He knew he’d get bored quickly.

After years of running around nonstop, he had grown used to being constantly on the move. Even the past few months had been hectic.

Although he no longer had to wake up at dawn, he usually kept himself busy: cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, or spending time with his mother, Fuyumi, and Ochako.

But now, he’d be here, alone, for who knows how long.

With a heavy sigh, he turned onto his side, trying to think of things he could do in a place like this. The ryokan seemed large and luxurious, and he wondered if there were activities available for guests. Maybe he could explore the place and find out what the hotel had to offer. Plus, if Shoto didn’t mind, he could venture out to do some sightseeing in the surrounding area.

He decided to pick up his phone to search for nearby places he could visit.

The area seemed quite touristy, and there were several souvenir shops nearby. He could take a walk and buy some keepsakes for his mother and Ochako.

As he continued scrolling through his phone, he heard the bathroom door open. He glanced up from the screen for a second and saw Shoto stepping out with a towel wrapped around his waist, drying his hair. Then, he quickly looked back at his phone and...

His eyes widened in surprise as his heart began to race frantically. He turned around abruptly, giving his back to Shoto, trying to hide the intense blush on his face.

Even though he tried to act as if nothing was happening, he couldn’t ignore the heat in his body, knowing the alpha was walking around half-naked and unconcerned.

"What are you doing? Did you talk to your mother already?" Shoto asked in a deep voice from the other side of the room.

Izuku swallowed hard, still not daring to look.

"Y-yeah, s-she’s fine. She’s with Fuyumi," he stammered nervously. "She said you talked to her this morning. You could’ve told me..."

"I don’t see why I should’ve," he replied indifferently. "Why don’t you be a good omega and bring me the blue suitcase that’s in the living room instead?”

Izuku frowned but chose not to say anything. He got up and walked toward the entryway, keeping his eyes fixed on the floor to avoid looking at his attractive husband.

Once he had the suitcase in his hands, he returned to the bedroom. As he entered, he let out a sharp scream and dropped the luggage, covering his eyes in embarrassment.

"What’s wrong with you? Why are you screaming?" Shoto exclaimed, raising an eyebrow at the omega.

"Y-you’re naked!" Izuku squealed, completely red.

"Don’t be so dramatic," Shoto replied, rolling his eyes. "You saw me like this yesterday, remember?"

"Y-yes, but it was dark!”

"Then here’s your chance to get a better look," Shoto said, stepping closer to the omega. "Come on, bunny."

Shoto’s warm hands covered Izuku’s, trying to pull them away from his eyes. It didn’t take much effort for Izuku to lower them on his own, letting them fall to his sides. His gaze inevitably dropped to Shoto’s member, hanging heavily between his legs.

Even though it wasn’t erect, its size was considerable. Its girth was striking even in a relaxed state. The skin was smooth and uniform, with subtle veins visible along the shaft. The base was thicker, adorned with hair that shared the same distinctive characteristic as his hair, while the tip, even without being fully hard, had a slight fold.

Izuku seemed hypnotized by the sight. His mouth began to water, his legs trembling involuntarily, and his entrance pulsing with need.

Shoto smirked, noticing the omega’s desire. He loved how Izuku always tried to resist before completely surrendering to him. The thought of watching him melt in his hands, utterly vulnerable, was something he was beginning to deeply enjoy.

“You know,” he whispered in a low voice, his mouth descending to Izuku’s exposed neck, leaving a trail of soft kisses and gentle nips, “I’d love to have you naked beneath me all day. Listening to those sensual moans of yours while I fuck you hard and fill you up until you can’t take anymore.”

“S-Shoto…” Izuku gasped, his voice barely audible as the heat from the alpha’s attentions spread throughout his body.

Shoto grinned against Izuku’s skin, savoring the reactions he was eliciting.

“Too bad this isn’t a pleasure trip,” Shoto continued teasingly, pulling away slowly from him. “I have important business to take care of in Kyoto. But who knows… Maybe one night, I’ll make some time for you.”

Feeling an almost irrational urge, Izuku pulled Shoto toward him forcefully, crashing their lips together in a desperate kiss. At first, Shoto was surprised; until that moment, Izuku had never taken the initiative. However, he quickly gave in to the kiss with equal fervor, burying his hands in the silky strands of his omega's hair and gently pulling to deepen the contact.

Their tongues met in a fiery exchange, moving with urgency. Izuku explored every corner of Shoto's mouth with desperation, pushing his tongue forward and lightly biting his lips. He was slightly frustrated—Shoto loved to tease him and then leave him hanging. But now, something felt different.

Since that morning, every one of Shoto's actions had affected him more than usual. It seemed as though his entire body was hypersensitive, amplifying even the slightest touch or word from his alpha.

When their lips parted from lack of air, they stayed close, panting.

Izuku gazed at Shoto, his breath uneven, his body still burning with desire.

“You know…” Izuku murmured, looking up at the alpha with tear-filled eyes, “In a couple of days, it’s my birthday...”

“Oh, really?” Shoto replied, smiling with interest, watching his beautiful omega nod.

"Yeah, maybe then...?" he said, biting his lip.

Shoto placed one last kiss on him before pulling away:

"Yeah... maybe…”

Chapter Text

Shoto kept his eyes on the report, though he wasn’t really paying attention to what it said. The murmur of voices in the room mixed with the hum of the air conditioner, creating a background noise that he barely registered. 

He nodded on occasion, whenever someone addressed him, but he quickly returned to ignoring them. He knew he should be more focused; after all, this was his idea and his first major project as CEO of Fendrel . But right now, he couldn’t stop thinking about Izuku.

Izuku, who had signed an agreement with his damned father. Izuku, who had agreed to marry him for money. Izuku, who manipulated his sister into becoming his friend. Izuku, who, before meeting him, had drenched himself in someone else’s pheromones only to pretend he had no idea. Izuku, who turned him on like no one else ever had. Izuku, who made the most enticing faces when they were together. Izuku, who enchanted him with his delicious sounds while he knotted him. Izuku, who had masturbated thinking about him. Izuku, who looked at him with eyes full of desire. Izuku, who was just as needy as he was. Izuku, Izuku, Izuku…

“Shoto!”

The shout snapped him out of his trance. He looked up, noticing that everyone in the room was staring at him. A warmth crept up his neck and spread across his cheeks. How long had he been lost in his thoughts?

“Looks like someone’s a little restless today,” Hatsume joked, a teasing mirth in her eyes, and casually rested her cheek on her hand.

“This is a bit awkward,” Shishida murmured, standing up and moving slowly toward the window, careful not to draw attention to himself.

“Good thing I took my suppressors this morning…” Fuwa whispered, clearly embarrassed as she wrung her hands in her lap.

Hatsume let out a loud laugh.

“You can bet you wouldn’t have made it back to Tokyo alive. If his husband is anything like him, he’d have ripped you apart for even thinking of laying a hand on Director Todoroki.”

“Shoto,” Tatsuma said, clearing her throat, “we understand you’re newly married, but could you keep your pheromones under control for a bit? Even I, as a beta, can smell you.”

Shoto’s gaze shifted to Sero, who nodded in agreement with Tatsuma’s words.

“Of course, my apologies to everyone,” the alpha muttered, standing up from his seat. “I’ll turn on the extractor. Let’s continue, please.”

“You should’ve planned this better, kid,” lawyer Tatsuaki interjected, his arms crossed. “I understand your enthusiasm, but investing in a new company like GeL. INC. comes with significant risks. The technology they’re offering may look promising, but what if they don’t deliver? What if the market shifts or they run into financial troubles? You’re trying to sprint before you’ve even learned to crawl.”

“The business is solid,” Shoto said through gritted teeth, sitting back down.

“But the timing isn’t,” Tatsuaki replied. “Especially with a new player in the market.”

“Their programs are exactly what we need to stay competitive!” Shoto exclaimed. “We can’t afford to fall behind just because we’re afraid of taking risks.”

“The director has a point,” Hatsume chimed in. “ GeL. INC. ’s technology is innovative. If Fendrel doesn’t adapt quickly, it risks falling behind.”

“We’re already behind,” the alpha corrected her. “Our device compatibility is among the worst out there, all thanks to my father. He and the board let the competition get ahead of us.”

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean we should leap in without a solid strategy,” Tatsuaki warned firmly. “Even if the plan is already laid out, we need to ensure every detail is airtight and that there are no loose ends.”

“I don’t understand why you keep pushing to slow the negotiation. The plan is already detailed and approved,” Shoto insisted. “The team has worked on every aspect, from technological integration to financial protection clauses. This isn’t something we just threw together; it’s the result of months of effort.”

“And did you make this plan with the same focus you showed today?” the man asked, glaring at him with disdain. “Thinking like some hormonal, moody teenager?”

"What the hell are you talking about?" Shoto snapped, clenching his jaw. "Are you questioning my ability to lead?"

"I’m questioning your ability to make decisions," Tatsuaki retorted. "This plan..." he said, slamming the tablet onto the table. "It’s just another example of the terrible judgment your family is known for."

 "So this is personal?" Shoto scoffed, letting out a sarcastic laugh. "Is this because your family can’t stand that I’m the one cleaning up their mess? Or because my sister rejected your ridiculous marriage proposal?"

"You insolent brat!"

 "Enough!" Tatsuma shouted, slamming her hand on the table. "Can we have the room for a moment?" she added, addressing the rest of the attendees, who had been silently observing the heated confrontation.

The beta waited for everyone else to leave the room before speaking again.

 "What the hell are you two thinking?" she began, clearly annoyed. "We’re less than an hour away from meeting the GeL executives. Do you think your petty ego contest is going to help us?"

 "What won’t help us is having this guy around, who contributes nothing," Shoto shot back, anger bubbling within him. How could this man question his competence?

 "Like it or not, I’m a member of Endeavor’s board of directors," the other man fired back. "And if I’m here, it’s because my wealth is in the hands of a stupid child."

 "This ‘stupid child’ has already proved to be better than the incompetent fool you recommended," Shoto countered, clenching his fists. "My work speaks for itself."

Tatsuaki let out a mocking laugh.

 "Do you really think you deserve this position?" the man asked, clearly amused. "Nepotism is what put you here. You’re nothing but a useless failure, just like your brother."

 "Don’t mention my brother!" Todoroki growled, grabbing Tatsuaki by the collar.

 "Shoto, calm down!" Tatsuma intervened, alarmed.

 "Let him, this only proves my point," Tatsuaki said, grinning maliciously. "A pathetic, failed fool whose daddy had to buy him an omega."

 "I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about," the alpha retorted, shoving the older man away roughly.

 "You don’t? But it’s exactly what Enji did with your mother, isn’t it?" Tatsuaki said mockingly. "Rei, Rei, Rei. Did they make sure this one can’t le—"

A powerful punch from Shoto silenced the man, sending him crashing to the floor. Tatsuaki clutched his face where he’d been struck, staring up at the alpha in shock.

 "Shoto! What have you done?!" the beta exclaimed, rushing to help the man.

The door burst open, revealing Sero, who cursed under his breath at the sight.

 "Let this be the last damn time you mention that woman in front of me! Do you hear me?!" Shoto yelled, walking furiously toward the man, his hands trembling with rage.

 "Calm down, Todoroki!" Sero urged, stepping in to restrain his boss. "Don’t make this worse."

 "This bastard needs to learn his damn place!" Shoto fumed. "Worthless, fifth-rate lawyer!"

 "Get him out of here, Hanta. Calm him down," the woman ordered, helping the lawyer to his feet.

 "Yeah, take that damn beast away! Get his omega to spread his legs and calm him down!" Tatsuaki sneered, grimacing in pain, still trying to provoke him.

 "Shut up, or I’ll be the one to kill you!" the woman growled, as Shoto, already heading toward the exit, stopped and turned back, clearly intent on hitting the man again.

Izuku squirmed uncomfortably on the floor of the boat, occasionally rubbing his neck when a sharp pain shot through it. He wanted to leave. He desperately wished to curl up in bed and hope the pain would disappear.

"Excuse me," he stammered, trying to hold back his nausea. "How much longer until we arrive?"

"About thirty minutes," the man in charge of the boat replied calmly.

"Could you turn back already?" Izuku asked, his eyes closed against the pain. "I’m not feeling well..."

"Sorry, but there’s no refund," the man said.

"I don’t care, just—" he interrupted himself with a retch. "Just take me back."

The omega stumbled back to his room, pale and sweaty. As soon as he opened the door, he rushed to the bathroom to empty his stomach.

"God..." he murmured, slowly getting up and walking to the sink. The cold marble against his trembling hands gave him a small measure of relief. Why did he have to feel like this right now?

As he brushed his teeth, he heard the door to the room slam shut, followed by frantic footsteps and muffled voices. He frowned, walking toward the sound, noticing the angry scent of Shoto. Hadn’t he left early?

Carefully, to avoid making noise, he opened the door and peeked out. The room appeared empty, so he assumed the alpha was still in the front parlor.

"...your fault, Todoroki," he heard Sero’s tense voice as he cautiously walked toward the voices. "But you shouldn’t have done that."

"That idiot provoked me! Talking about that..." Shoto’s voice was sharp.

"Okay, he crossed the line, but that doesn’t mean—"

"I don’t care! I’m not going to tolerate his— What are you doing here?"

Izuku jumped in place, noticing Shoto’s furious glare directed at him. His heart pounded, fearing he’d just made things worse.

"Did your boat ride get canceled?" Sero interjected quickly, glancing at his watch as an excuse to divert the tension. "I can try to schedule something else if you’d like."

"No, that’s not necessary. I felt unwell halfway through and asked to come back," Izuku explained, turning his attention to Shoto. "But... is everything okay? I heard you were upset."

"Are you eavesdropping now too?" Shoto replied with a sardonic smile.

"Everything’s fine," Sero said, trying to calm the situation. "We’re just dealing with a minor setback, nothing serious."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Izuku asked softly, stepping closer to Shoto. For some reason, he felt an intense desire to do something to soothe his alpha.

"Do you know anything about business? Are you a lawyer?" Shoto snapped acidly.

"You know I’m not..."

"Then there’s nothing you can do," the alpha hissed. "So mind your own business."

"Todoroki," the beta reprimanded. "He’s just trying to help."

Shoto let out a long sigh, running his hands through his hair in an attempt to calm down.

"Come here," he finally said, grabbing Izuku’s hand firmly. "You stay here," he added, pointing at Sero, who had already moved  to follow them.

Shoto led the omega back to the bedroom, closing the door behind them with a brusque motion. Without wasting a second, Shoto yanked Izuku toward him, pulling him into a tight embrace. The omega froze as he felt his alpha’s nose bury into his neck, inhaling his scent.

"Shoto..." Izuku murmured, unsure of what to do.

"Just... stay like this," the alpha whispered against his neck, tightening his arms around him.

"But—"

"And don’t talk."

Izuku frowned but remained silent. Testing his luck, he raised a hand to Shoto’s head, gently running his fingers through his hair. To his surprise, the alpha let out a low sound—a mix between a sigh and a growl—but didn’t pull away.

The situation felt absurd and humiliating to Shoto. Izuku reminded him of everything that had wrecked his life, both in the past and present. Yet the visceral need to cling to him, to feel his warm body in his arms, to sense that he wasn’t alone in this moment, seemed to be the only thing anchoring him to the present. At least for now, until the storm of emotions settled and everything returned to normal. Until the memory of his mother faded. Until the scar stopped aching again.

"Let it be a reminder of what you are."

"Can I do something for you?" Izuku’s voice murmured softly.

He clenched his teeth, holding back. The frustration swirled within him, knowing that the only person who could understand, the only one who knew what those words meant, was miles away and probably no longer wanted anything to do with him.

"No, you can’t," he said, trying not to pour his feelings and pain onto the omega. "Just... don’t let go."

"Don’t leave me..."

The hum of the engine was the only sound breaking the uncomfortable silence in the car. Shoto kept his gaze fixed on the window, trying not to think about what had happened. But he knew Tatsuma, sitting beside him, wouldn’t remain silent. He knew her too well. That was precisely why, once he had calmed down, he requested to share the car only with her.

"What you did was incredibly stupid and reckless, Shoto," she began, not taking her eyes off the road ahead. "It’s not just about having a lawyer at the negotiation table. Tatsuaki is one of the group’s shareholders. If you weren’t a Todoroki, you’d be finished."

"So, you think the same as him," he muttered, more to himself than to the beta.

She cast him a quick glance before responding without hesitation.

"That you acted like a childish idiot? Yes, I do," her words were like a slap—direct and unfiltered.

Shoto clicked his tongue, crossing his arms while staring at the passing scenery.

"Listen, Shoto," she continued, sighing as she adjusted her seat. "You can’t afford to lose your temper like that, especially not in front of the employees. You’re in charge now. If you can’t control your temper, this won’t work."

"What was I supposed to do then?" he snapped, turning toward her. "Let him humiliate me over nonsense?"

"It’s not about letting yourself be humiliated, Shoto," she replied with a sigh. "It’s about having composure. This won’t be an isolated incident. As you keep climbing, you’ll encounter people like Tatsuaki—or worse."

"As if I haven’t dealt with jerks like him my whole damn life…"

"That’s exactly why you should be used to it by now!" Her voice rose, causing the driver to shift uncomfortably in his seat. "If you want to lead, you need to learn when to fight and when to be smart. That’s how business works; it’s not always about winning."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah!" he retorted angrily, raising a hand to stop her from lecturing further. "I don’t need more sermons! I’m going through a damn tough time, okay? I’m not making excuses, but… this trip isn’t going as I expected."

Tatsuma let out a heavy sigh. "And whose fault is that?" she asked calmly, though her tone left no room for escape. "What you proposed today was good, Shoto. Innovative, even. If it weren’t, I wouldn’t be here supporting you. But if you keep losing focus, if you can’t give this your 100%, then nothing you’re doing will matter. You can’t let personal issues mix with professional ones."

The car came to a gentle stop in front of the building where the meeting would take place. The driver turned off the engine, and silence once again filled the space. He heard Tatsuma exit the car. Taking advantage of the moment, Shoto closed his eyes and massaged his temples, mimicking the way Izuku had done earlier, until a new voice interrupted him.

"Uh… Todoroki?" Sero’s voice came from outside the car.

"Yes?" he murmured, sounding exhausted.

"I spoke with Aizawa," Sero said, opening the car door for him. "His schedule is full, so he can’t make it. But he’ll be sending one of his associates instead."

"And are they competent?" Shoto asked as he stepped out of the car. "Do they have experience?"

"Well, they’re new to this," Sero admitted with a slight shrug. "But Aizawa assured me he’s one of the best he’s got."

Shoto hummed in acknowledgment, devoid of enthusiasm.

"Are you really okay?" Sero asked with concern. "Do you need a doctor or something?"

"I’m fine; it’s probably the bond," Shoto replied. "He’s likely feeling it too."

"Speaking of Midoriya," the beta hesitated, "I know you planned to take tomorrow off, but with everything that’s happened, I don’t think that’ll be possible."

"It’s fine," the alpha sighed, defeated. "It doesn’t matter. Let’s go."

Izuku shifted on the futon, trying to fall asleep. It was close to midnight, and Shoto still hadn’t returned. He couldn’t help but feel worried about him. Despite Shoto’s attempts to hide it, Izuku had sensed the vulnerability in the alpha.

The way he had embraced him earlier, as if seeking comfort, reminded Izuku of his own childhood, when he would run to his mother’s arms for protection whenever he was scared.

“Shoto…” he murmured, staring at the ceiling.

Was this going to be his life? Staying home alone all day? He should be happy about it, not having to deal with Shoto, but for some reason, the thought bothered him.

He sighed and placed a hand on his abdomen, as he had done several times in the past hours, as if he could feel something different. Was it possible that something was already growing inside him? While a big part of him hoped so, there was still a small part that wished otherwise.

Izuku hadn’t grown up surrounded by luxuries. His father had been a laborer who earned just enough to support their small family. Yet, despite their struggles, his childhood had been happy. He had grown up filled with love, admiring the way his parents loved each other. But this baby…

No, he had to think positively. Even if Shoto didn’t want it, Izuku was determined to give the baby all the love he could offer. He knew his mother would support him and that his future aunt would undoubtedly spoil the child. He wouldn’t let his child become just a tool. This baby would be his, and he would ensure it grew up surrounded by love and care, no matter what Enji, Shoto, or anyone else thought.

“Ugh,” he groaned. A new twist in his stomach made him curl onto his side. The discomfort wasn’t unbearable, but it was enough to make him feel uneasy. Maybe he just needed to get up and move around to clear his mind. He slowly stood, feeling the cold floor beneath his bare feet.

Before Izuku could take a step toward the bathroom, the bedroom door opened, revealing Shoto.

"What are you doing awake?" the alpha asked softly, surprised.

"I... I couldn't sleep," Izuku replied, lowering his gaze.

Shoto's eyes focused on how Izuku kept his hands protectively over his abdomen.

"Do you still feel unwell?" he asked with a note of concern in his voice, stepping toward him and slightly furrowing his brow. "Do you want me to call a doctor?"

The omega shook his head.

"There's no need. I'm fine."

"Good."

Izuku stood still, watching as Shoto removed his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt. He bit his lip, indecisive. His body desperately wanted to catch the alpha's attention. Something inside him told him that Shoto wasn’t okay, that he needed to do something to comfort him. Anything.

"Shoto," Izuku whispered, nervously brushing his hand against Shoto’s arm. "Do you remember what we talked about yesterday?"

The alpha paused his movements, remaining silent for a moment.

"We talked about many things, Izuku," he finally replied. "You’ll have to be more specific."

"R-right, uh... a-about my birthday?"

"Your birthday is just a reminder of how useless you are to this family."

The alpha continued what he was doing, refusing to look at him.

"And?" he responded curtly, walking toward one of the dressers.

"You said that... maybe we could do something," Izuku continued softly. "I just thought that... maybe..."

Shoto let out a low chuckle.

"Did you really think I had time for that sort of thing?" he said, slowly turning to face him. "I'm here to close deals, Izuku. Not for ridiculous parties or celebrations."

"You have no right to ask me for anything, Shoto. You've already caused enough."

Shoto's words felt like a slap. Izuku felt the knot in his throat grow tighter, and his eyes filled with tears, but he refused to cry in front of him.

"But... yesterday..." he murmured, his voice breaking as he struggled to maintain his composure. "You said maybe..."

"I said it to shut you up," Shoto interrupted. "I don’t have time to play childish celebration games. If you really want something, go out and buy a dildo."

"You expect me to celebrate you after everything you've put me through?"

Izuku clenched his fists, feeling a mix of rage, pain, and confusion swirling inside him. He felt like a complete fool for believing that just because Shoto had been a little kind to him, because he had shown him a sliver of vulnerability, things would be different. That somehow, Shoto might start to see him differently.

How could he have been so naive?

"I told you I didn’t want to come, but you brought me," he muttered, trying to hold himself together as his hands trembled with frustration. "Is this how it’s going to be? Huh?! Are you going to force me to follow you for the rest of my fucking life?"

"In this family, we do what I say."

"Force you?!" Shoto exclaimed, stepping closer to the omega, enraged. "Now you’re the damn victim?! You’re the idiot who got yourself into this willingly! No one forced you into anything!" he shouted, letting his dominant pheromones flood the room. "The only one losing here is me, having to put up with you! A pathetic omega crying over his stupid birthday," he added with disdain.

"Whining again? Stop acting like a child if you want to be strong."

But Izuku wasn’t willing to submit. Even though his legs trembled, even though the air around him felt heavier, he wasn’t going to back down. He had to endure.

"It's funny," the omega replied with a mocking smile. "You didn’t seem like a victim while you were mocking me. Not when we first met, not when you were at my house… and certainly not while you were fucking me," he said, releasing his warning pheromones as well. "But do you know what you did seem like? A spoiled brat who didn’t get what he wanted for Christmas. A pathetic alpha."

"You're always seeking attention, Shoto. You're like a child crying for a toy he can't have."

Shoto's eyes widened in shock before a fiery rage consumed him. Without thinking, he closed the last few inches between them and grabbed Izuku roughly by the arms, slamming him against the wall.

"Who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like that?!" Shoto roared, his face dangerously close to Izuku’s. "Why don’t you say that again, huh?!"

Izuku stared at him defiantly, his breathing labored.

"Pathetic alpha!" he spat with disdain, forcing a bitter smile. "You’re a damn spoiled child who doesn’t even know what he wants!"

"The weak don’t survive in this family."

"I don’t know what I want?" Shoto hissed, narrowing his eyes with a cruel smile on his lips. "You can't run, Shoto. This is your destiny." "And what about you? You're a whore who sold yourself for money!" he growled, leaning in closer. "You knew exactly what you were getting into, but now you come crying. Does that make you feel better?"

"There’s no room for weakness. A Todoroki doesn’t bend to anything."

"And does it make you feel better?!" Izuku shot back, his voice laced with bitterness. "Call me whatever you want, but I’m not the one trapped in my own misery! You think you’re superior because you carry the damn Todoroki name, but you’re nothing more than a miserable wreck!" Izuku’s chest heaved with each word, his anger fueling him. "You hide behind that cold and dominant act, but you can’t handle anything in your life! You’re nothing but your father’s puppet, and it’s tearing you apart, isn’t it?!"

"You’ll never be happy, Shoto. Not when you’re so much like your father."

Shoto flashed a cold smile.

"Maybe I am my father’s puppet," he said in a low voice. "But I’m a puppet with power." He let out a bitter laugh. "And you’re nothing more than a sold-out whore."

"Don’t expect me to ever treat you like a son. I’m only here because I have to be."

The words cut Izuku like daggers. Each insult, each accusation echoed in his mind. Of course, he knew. Of course, he accepted the deal. But he hadn’t done it for himself. He had done it for his mother, to save her, to give her a life he could never afford on his own. But Shoto would never understand, he’d never comprehend that kind of sacrifice.

"You don’t know a damn thing about me," Izuku muttered, his voice breaking as he tried to hold back the tears threatening to escape, his chest tightening. "You have no idea what I’ve been through, what I’ve had to do!"

Shoto let him go abruptly, as if the mere touch of Izuku was repulsive.

"You’ll never be strong enough, Shoto. You lack courage."

"I told you from the start: don’t expect me to treat you well," he said coldly. "I don’t need to, and I’m not interested in knowing anything about you. I’m not wasting any more time on you."

"Don’t come near me, Shoto. I don’t want you around."

Izuku watched as Shoto walked to the door. He didn’t want to feel this way. He didn’t want to admit that Shoto’s words were destroying him inside. But the hatred and anger were too much.

"I hate you," he murmured, his voice barely audible as he stared at Shoto’s back. "I hate you, you idiot, I hate you!"

"You’re a mistake no one wants to acknowledge."

The alpha paused for a moment, his shoulders tensing before he slightly turned his head, without even looking at Izuku.

"Welcome to the club," he replied coldly, before leaving the room, leaving Izuku shattered on the floor.

"I wish you had never been born."

Chapter Text

The sound of the rain was the only thing echoing inside the dark room. The soft droplets hit the windowpane in a monotonous rhythm, but even the soothing sound couldn’t ease the pain inside Izuku.

“Nnngh,” he groaned, bringing his hands to the back of his neck. The pain was so intense that he barely had the strength to lower onto the futon and curl up into a ball, hoping it would help him calm down.

He didn’t understand how everything had escalated so quickly. One moment, they had been exchanging scathing words and the next, he truly thought Shoto might have hit him. The furious hatred in his eyes had been frightening.

Bitter tears welled up in his eyes again. If Shoto had hit him… what would he do then? Shoto was his Alpha now—he belonged to him. He had marked him less than three days ago, but the time since then already felt like an eternity.

Loud sobs started to escape his lips, taking his breath from his lungs, and this time, he didn’t bother to hold them back. What for? His mother was miles away—he was alone.

Suddenly, a sharp pain stabbed at his stomach, harshly jerking him from his misery. Izuku covered his mouth as an intense wave of nausea hit him. He made to crawl off the bed to the bathroom, but the overwhelming urge to vomit was too much. In the next moment, he felt the contents of his stomach rise up his throat, and as a last resort he leaned over the edge of his futon, and vomited up onto the floorboards.

The Omega closed his eyes, continuing to dry heave for a moment. He felt disgusting—and with a mix of tears, sweat, and snot covering his face, he was sure he looked just as bad.

As he struggled to catch his breath, he heard soft knocking on the door.

“Please, no,” he thought through his tears. The only person who could enter was Shoto, and he didn’t want to see him. Not like this.

“G-go away!” he shouted, his voice trembling. “Just leave me alone!”

“Midoriya, it’s Sero,” the Beta’s voice came from the other side. “I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

Izuku remained silent. Why did he feel disappointed that it wasn’t Shoto?

“I-I’m fine, you can leave now.”

“Do you mind if I take a quick look just to be sure? I promise I’ll go after that.”

Izuku hesitated. He had barely spoken to Sero before, but for some reason, the Beta had stood up for him against Shoto earlier, and he seemed genuinely concerned.

“I-I… I can’t get up…” he whispered. “If I try, I-I’ll fall…”

“Don’t worry. The door’s unlocked, right? I’m going to open it.”

Sero waited a few seconds before pushing the door open. His eyes scanned the dimly lit room until they landed on the Omega. He looked terrible.

Izuku was hunched over on the futon, his face flushed and streaked with tears. Despite the faint light, Sero could see the dark circles under his swollen eyes. The poor Omega looked so small and broken that he had to resist the urge to hug him.

“Midoriya,” he murmured, stepping closer and eyeing the puddle of sick. “You need to see a doctor.”

“No, no. I’m fine,” Izuku said, clumsily wiping his face. “See? I just need a shower and…”

A sharp headache struck him suddenly, making him squeeze his eyes shut as a stabbing pain shot through his temple. He swayed slightly, bracing himself on the futon.

"Midoriya… please," the Beta insisted. "Come with me."

Izuku slowly opened his eyes, fighting against the pain. His lips trembled—he knew lying wasn’t an option anymore.

"You’re probably busy," he finally whispered. "I don’t want to cause more trouble…"

"This isn’t causing trouble," Sero soothed, he moved closer and offered his hand. "You don’t look well, Midoriya. If I don’t help you now, I’ll feel worse knowing I left you like this."

The Omega hesitated for a second. He didn’t want to go outside, but he didn’t want to stay like this either.

"I… I made a mess," he admitted, lowering his gaze in embarrassment. "I should clean up first."

"Don’t worry about that. I’ll have someone come and take care of it while we’re gone, alright?" Sero assured him, trying to downplay it. "Now, just give me a second—I’ll get a chair so you don’t have to walk."

Izuku watched as Sero stepped out of the room. As best as he could, he wiped his face with the bed sheets, trying to make himself look at least a little more presentable.

Sero soon returned, pushing a wheelchair. Carefully, he helped Izuku up and eased him into the seat. Then, he wrapped a blanket around him, making sure he was comfortable.

"The morning’s a bit chilly," the Beta commented as he adjusted the blanket. "And we don’t want you getting sicker."

Izuku looked at him and gave a small nod of gratitude, burying his face into the soft fabric, inhaling the pleasant scent it carried. Without realizing it, his shoulders started to relax, the tight knot in his throat loosened just a little, and for the first time in what felt like hours, he felt a sliver of relief.

"Thank you…" he murmured, his voice barely audible as he hid his face in the blanket.

Sero had stayed in the hotel’s small clinic with Izuku for a while. Once he was sure the Omega was in good hands, he walked back to his room.

Careful not to make too much noise, he closed the door behind him and made his way to the bedroom. Inside, Shoto was lying in bed, hooked up to an IV that kept him slightly sedated.

"I left him at the clinic," Sero informed quietly, setting the Alpha’s suitcase on a nearby chair. "He’s doing better now. The blanket helped, but… he’s going to need some time to recover."

"Thanks for taking him," Shoto murmured, trying to keep his eyes open.

"It’s no problem," Sero replied, starting to organize the luggage. "I also brought this."

The Beta pulled out some of Izuku’s clothes from the suitcase, handing them to Shoto. The Alpha took the sweatshirt with a trembling hand, pressing it against his nose and letting out a deep sigh of relief as he inhaled the lingering scent of the Omega.

"You know, if you keep asking me for favors like this, I’m going to need a raise," Sero commented with a lopsided grin.

"Whatever you want," Shoto exhaled, barely audible.

"Oh, by the way, I had to call Bakugo in the middle of the night."

Shoto remained silent.

"You showed up at my door in a full-blown rage, and I had no idea what to do with you. Do you know how hard it is to get that guy to answer in a good mood at that hour? He yelled at me and said he was going to kill you the next time he saw you."

"I’ll call him later to apologize…" Shoto muttered, glancing at his hand with the IV still attached. "How much longer?"

"Not much," Sero replied, checking the IV bag. "Maybe another ten minutes. Still, you need to stay in bed longer. They practically gave you a dose meant for an elephant. Later, they’re going to give you more supplemental hormone therapy and behavior stabilizers."

Shoto scowled.

"And yet I still feel like shit," he grumbled, sinking his head back against the pillow.

"That’s because you are." Sero shot back without hesitation, “A shit.”

Shoto gave a small, sad smile, closing his eyes as he took a deep breath, inhaling the lingering scent on Izuku’s clothes that he still held in his hands.

"Yeah, I am," he admitted in a whisper.

"Well, a nurse will be coming to check on you soon," Sero said, heading toward the door. "The rest of the team will take care of things at work and handle the meeting with Aizawa’s lawyer. In the meantime, try to reflect a little… or just relax. I’ll see you later."

"Wait, Sero!" Shoto stopped him just before he left. "Can you do me another favor?"

Izuku slowly woke up, feeling his eyelids heavy. He brought a hand to his face, trying to shield himself from the intense white light before furrowing his brows slightly.

He groaned, his mouth was dry, and his tongue felt rubbery, he looked around for a moment, confusion addling his thoughts. He spotted the IV needle taped to the back of his hand, attached to a half empty bag of clear liquid hanging on a metal stand on wheels beside his bed.

"Ah, you’re awake," a woman’s voice reached his ears. The Omega looked around until he spotted a nurse. "How are you feeling?" she asked kindly, stepping closer to help him sit up.

Izuku blinked several times, struggling to find the words to respond.

He opened his mouth once, but closed it before he could attempt to talk, motioning for water.

The nurse jerked lightly, before filling a small white plastic cup with water from the cooler in the corner. She lifted it to his hands and he quickly took a sip, the cool liquid immediately satiating his sore throat. 

"I feel… strange," he said, his voice slow and sluggish, noticing how difficult it was to get the words out.

The nurse smiled understandingly as she adjusted the pillow behind him, taking the cup from his raised hand and placing it on the bedside table.

"That’s normal. The sedative is still in effect. Take your time to recover."

Izuku gave a weak nod, feeling a strange sense of peace, a calmness that wrapped around him like he was floating in a tranquil sea. He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt this relaxed. With clumsy movements, he reached for the blanket Sero had given him, pulling it close. He buried his nose in it, but this time… he couldn’t smell anything.

"E-excuse me," he said with difficulty, catching the nurse’s attention. "What they gave me… is it safe? M-my Alpha and I… well, I don’t know if I might be expecting, but I’ve had some strange symptoms…"

The nurse raised an eyebrow curiously, giving him a more thorough look.

"How long do you think it’s been?" she asked, her tone turning more serious. "If you want, we can run a test right now."

"T-three days…"

"It’s still a little early to know for sure. Sometimes tests taken this soon can be misleading," the nurse explained gently. "I’d recommend waiting at least another week for a more reliable result."

Izuku exhaled slowly, only now realizing he had been holding his breath. He nodded, sinking a little further into the bed.

"As for the treatment," the nurse continued, returning to her warm tone, "you’re not the only case like this. That’s why we made sure it was as mild as possible to avoid any risks."

After that, she left him alone to fully wake up. Izuku closed his eyes, focusing on his breathing. It had been a long time since his mind had been this quiet, and the stillness he felt now was almost foreign to him.

Some time later, the nurse returned to help him bathe. At another time, just the thought of showing himself like this in front of someone would have made him blush instantly. However, his limbs still felt sluggish, and exhaustion was stronger than any embarrassment. 

So, he accepted the help without complaint, letting the hot water wash away the grime clinging to his skin.

Once clean, exhaustion took full hold of him, and he slept deeply for a few more hours.

It was mid-afternoon when he was finally allowed to return to his room. He walked lightly, making sure not to step in any rain puddles. He gripped tightly at the umbrella that had been provided for him.

He still felt strange from the pheromone blockers—almost as if he were in a dream. Every step he took felt slightly off, like his body was here, but his mind was floating somewhere far away.

He paused for a moment, letting his eyes wander over the scenery around him; the leaves pasted to the ground and dark from rain, and the light downpour formed shallow puddles along the path, but he couldn’t feel the coolness in the air or the petrichor scent of wet earth that always followed the rain.

"Weird," he murmured to himself.

"I think it’s actually pretty relaxing," a voice echoed behind him.

Izuku slowly turned toward the source of the voice. A few meters away, leaning against a tree, stood a man holding a cigarette, watching him with curiosity.

The stranger had messy, dark indigo hair and noticeable bags under his eyes. He was dressed in a well-fitted dark suit, but his relaxed posture against the tree trunk took away any sense of formality.

"I mean, I think it’s beautiful, don’t you?" the man continued, taking a drag from his cigarette. "Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine being in a place like this. Must be pretty expensive."

"It is," Izuku replied curtly. "Or at least that’s what my husband said."

"You look too young to be married. How old are you? Did your parents give you permission, or did you run away?"

"I turned twenty-one today," he answered, furrowing his brows, his brain feeling sluggish and confused at all the sudden and seemingly random questions. "I got married three days ago."

"Honeymoon and birthday… Strange to see you out here alone. Trouble in paradise?" the man teased, exhaling smoke with a smirk. 

"I give you a few months. Tops."

Izuku narrowed his eyes at the man. If his emotions weren’t so dulled at the moment, he would probably be annoyed at how nosy the other was being because Izuku’s marital status or how long it would last , was really none of this stranger's business. Nonetheless,  he turned his back and started walking away, deciding not to give him any more attention,—until the stranger called out to him again.

"Wait!" the other man shouted, still not moving from his spot. "I didn’t mean to be so intrusive, alright?" He scratched the back of his neck, looking a little uncomfortable. "I get talkative when I haven’t slept enough… and, well, I’m here for work. Stressed out, you know?"

"No, I don’t," Izuku replied, tilting his head. "I don’t know you."

The man let out a short chuckle before putting out his cigarette against the tree trunk, and crushing its remains against the leaf covered soil at his feet.

"You’re right. I’m Hitoshi… Hitoshi Shinso," he said with a tired smile. "And you?"

Izuku averted his gaze, hesitating for a moment before answering.

"Midoriya," he answered quietly, the feel of his former last name on his tongue left emotions of comfort and familiarity and yet an aftertaste of inherent wrongness that he abhorred for what it stood for. "Just Midoriya."

"Alright then, Just Midoriya," Shinso teased, "I’m not great at asking for favors, but…" He pressed his palms together in an imitation of a beg. "Mind giving me a hand getting to the reception?"

Izuku raised an eyebrow.

"Why would you need help with that?"

Shinso let out a small laugh, motioning toward the gray sky.

"Well, I’d rather not show up to my meeting completely soaked," He gestured toward his clothes with a slight grimace. "Also, I don’t want to get in trouble with the higher-ups for looking like a mess on my first day."

Izuku stared at him in silence for a few seconds, weighing the situation. In the end, he sighed.

"Fine," he allowed, shifting slightly to the side so Shinso could step under his umbrella. "But you better not start asking a bunch of questions."

Shinso smirked, clearly relieved.

"Promise. I’ll just walk and keep up with your pace, nothing else."

Liar , Izuku thought, listening to Shinso’s voice beside him. They had barely taken a few steps before the man started asking him all sorts of questions.

"Are you always this reserved, or is it just with me?" Shinso asked, glancing at him as they walked.

Izuku shrugged, feeling a little uncomfortable.

"I just… I'm not used to talking to strangers," he replied, continuing to walk. "Are you always this nosy?"

"I'm a lawyer; it's part of my job," Shinso said with a chuckle. "And you? What do you do besides rescuing lost souls in the rain?"

"I… I used to be a waiter. Now, I guess I’ll be a househusband."

Shinso raised an eyebrow.

"A househusband? Is that what you want, or is that what your husband wants?"

"You said you wouldn’t ask questions!" the Omega snapped, tilting the umbrella so the rain fell onto Shinso.

"Okay, okay, okay! Sorry," he quickly apologized, ducking back under the umbrella. "I was just curious."

Izuku didn’t say anything and kept walking. This guy clearly didn’t know it was rude to ask a stranger such personal questions. However, despite his discomfort, there was something about Shinso’s persistence that intrigued him.

"Are you always this direct with everyone?" he finally asked, his tone more challenging.

"Only with people who seem to have something interesting to tell," Shinso answered with a crooked smile.

Izuku frowned. He wasn’t sure if that was a good or a bad answer.

"I like your coat," the man said after a moment of silence.

The Omega glanced down at his clothes. The coat was anything but glamorous—it had been given to him before he left the clinic. The fabric was soft, almost like a stuffed animal, with a cow-print pattern in shades of brown.

"Are you making fun of me, or…?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, unsure if the comment was genuine.

"Not at all! It’s nice. Maybe I should get one just like it," Shinso joked, a small smile on his lips. "Do you think it would suit me?"

Izuku blinked, caught off guard, as an image of Shinso in a fluffy coat crossed his mind. He felt like the pheromone blockers and sedatives were starting to wear off because, for some reason, that mental picture was too funny.

"A kigurumi would suit you better," he responded, letting out a soft chuckle that blended with the sound of the rain.

Shinso felt something stir inside him at the sound of Izuku’s laughter. Wanting to hear more, he played along.

"A kigurumi, huh?" he mused. "I see. Maybe something with ears, right?"

"Mmm," the Omega hummed, amused. "Maybe you should get one before your next meeting. I’m sure it would impress everyone."

"Maybe just impressing you would be enough," Shinso quipped boldly, watching Izuku’s reaction closely. "Though I doubt I could look as adorable as you."

Izuku blinked, startled by the turn in conversation. The unexpected compliment threw him off, leaving him feeling both uncomfortable and… something else. Something bubbling inside him. He felt his body react involuntarily.

"You… you shouldn’t say things like that," he muttered, averting his gaze. "I’m married, remember?"

Shinso raised an eyebrow but didn’t look away.

"I remember," he said calmly, slipping his hands into his pockets. "But that doesn’t change what I said."

Izuku felt his pulse quicken, though he wasn’t sure if it was because of Shinso’s words or the intensity of his gaze. He tried to maintain his composure, but inside, the comment lingered longer than he’d like to admit.

"Well, it should," he finally replied, tightening his grip on the umbrella handle.

The rain continued to fall around them, a curtain separating them from the outside world, yet at the same time, enclosing them in their own private bubble.

Shinso let out a quiet sigh, but he didn’t seem annoyed or regretful.

"Maybe," he said in an easygoing tone. "But I was just being honest."

Izuku pressed his lips together, unsure how to respond to that. He knew he shouldn’t let the conversation go any further down this path, but there was something about Shinso… something in his relaxed confidence that made it feel like he was always two steps ahead.

"You don’t have to impress me, seriously," Izuku finally said, turning his gaze toward the path ahead, realizing they had reached their destination.

"Maybe not," Shinso replied with a smirk. "But it’s fun trying. Either way, thanks for saving me and getting me here dry."

Izuku couldn’t help but smirk a little as they stopped under the building’s awning. He let go of the umbrella’s handle, allowing the cool air to brush against his skin.

"It was nothing. I guess you just didn’t want to show up to your important meeting soaking wet," he said, still not looking directly at Shinso.

The man nodded, offering him a relaxed smile, though there was a glint in his eyes that Izuku chose to ignore.

"Correct. Being the drenched lawyer isn’t exactly the best first impression," he joked before tilting his head slightly. "Maybe I owe you one."

Izuku shrugged, not wanting to give it any importance. After all, their conversation had been nothing more than a strange string of remarks, and they would likely never cross paths again once he returned to Shoto.

"Not necessary," he replied quickly, turning toward the entrance. "I think you’re where you need to be now."

Shinso watched him for a second longer before finally moving toward the door.

"Either way, thanks Midoriya," he said, emphasizing his last name as if he were savoring it.

"Yeah, sure… uh, see you," Izuku muttered, turning quickly and walking toward his room, feeling an odd knot in his stomach.

Shinso watched him disappear down the hallway. A knowing smirk curled on his lips as he recalled his own words:

"I give you a few months."

It hadn’t been a joke—at least, not entirely.

His intuition told him this wouldn’t be the last time their paths crossed. Shinso was already looking forward to it.

Izuku closed the door behind him and leaned against it, taking a deep breath to steady himself. Instinctively, his hand traced the mark on his neck. He needed to focus—he was married; he’d been knotted, marked, and was very possibly carrying Shoto’s child. That was all, he reminded himself. That was all he had left. His Alpha. His husband.

Finally, when his breathing evened out, his eyes scanned the room, searching for something to distract him from the whirlwind of thoughts threatening to suffocate him.

That’s when he noticed it: a bouquet of flowers—small but vibrant—carefully placed on the table. It wasn’t an extravagant arrangement, but the mix of roses and lilies had something comforting about it.

Beside them, a plate of katsudon and a small box of sweets. His heart gave a tiny jolt at the sight.

It was his favorite food.

He walked toward the chabudai , his stomach growling softly. With everything that had happened today, he barely remembered the last time he had eaten.

The sight of the katsudon made his mouth water, and without thinking twice, he picked up the chopsticks and began to eat. A sigh of satisfaction escaped his lips as he tasted the first bite. It was almost as good as the one his mother used to make on those days when life had been simpler. He forced himself not to dwell on that thought and finished the meal quickly.

He didn’t stop there. His eyes immediately landed on the box of sweets. There was something therapeutic about eating without worrying. He picked up a mochi between his fingers, examining it with a small smile before taking a bite.

"This one looks like Ochako," he murmured, tilting his head, recognizing the shape and colors that reminded him of his friend.

He wondered if she and his mother were thinking about him. It was his birthday, after all. But they had probably assumed he was busy celebrating with Shoto.

Without checking his phone, he already knew—there would be no messages waiting for him. No calls. No spontaneous "Happy birthday."

The Omega stood up and picked up the flowers, bringing them close to his nose. He still couldn’t fully pick up any scent. Without thinking much of it, he carried them with him as he walked toward the bedroom.

When he opened the door, his eyes instinctively drifted to the corner where he had thrown up earlier. He sighed in relief upon seeing that everything had been cleaned perfectly.

Crossing the room, he carefully placed the flowers near the window, where they would receive the morning light. As he took in his surroundings, something else caught his attention—the futon.

There were several blankets and cushions laid out on it—ones that definitely hadn’t been there before.

A small smile appeared on his face.

Without thinking much about who had left them, he began arranging the blankets and pillows across the bed. His movements were slow, almost automatic, but deep down, he knew what he was doing.

When he was nearly satisfied with the setup, he walked toward the closet.

Something inside him told him he needed just one more thing to make his nest perfect.

He opened the doors with enthusiasm, but his excitement didn’t last long.

He rushed to the dresser, rummaging through every drawer, even checking the small pile of dirty laundry—nothing.

It was as if Shoto had never even been there.

Izuku brought a trembling hand to his mouth, feeling nausea rising within him.

Where was he? Had he actually left him alone?

Panic set in, and he bolted toward the entrance.

He had to find him.

Or at least find Sero and demand an answer.

He couldn’t be left here. He couldn’t.

With his heart pounding violently in his chest, he yanked the door open, ready to storm out in search of his Alpha, but was frozen by the sight of the ryokan maid waiting, her hand raised as if she were about to knock, her mouth agape slightly in shock,

"My apologies, Todoroki-san," the woman said, bowing respectfully. "I forgot to leave this."

"W-what is it?" he asked clumsily. It wasn’t the first time someone had called him by his new name , but at that moment, it sounded stranger than ever .

Even so, he chose not to dwell on it.

The woman handed him a bag with a composed expression.

"A few extra blankets," she explained, then added as she extended an envelope, "and these. The doctor who attended to you sent them. The instructions are inside."

"Oh…" Izuku murmured, taking the items with slightly trembling hands.

The maid gave a slight bow before leaving him alone again.

Feeling disheartened, Izuku trudged back to the bedroom. He set the envelope with the pills on a nearby table before collapsing into his nest.

He curled onto his side and, as he pulled one of the new blankets over himself, he noticed it—

A faint scent of Shoto lingered on the fabric.

He closed his eyes and buried his face into the blanket, inhaling the electrifying scent of his Alpha.

"Idiot…" he murmured.

Music blasted at full volume, and the air was thick with a mixture of perfumes, beauty products, and hairspray. Models stood before mirrors, practicing their walk, and scrutinizing every fold and detail of their outfit, each turn and posture with meticulous precision.

Katsuki oversaw everything with a sharp gaze. There was no room for mistakes in this industry—everything had to be perfect.

"Hey, you!" he barked, pointing at a distracted model. "Fix that damn skirt! If you trip, you’ll pay for it. And you!" He turned to an assistant. "Tell the makeup artist to hurry the hell up, or he’s fucking fired!"

"How about this pose for the finale?" a model asked, striking a ridiculous stance in front of Bakugo.

"Do you want people to think you’re about to piss yourself?! We have choreography for a reason!" he growled, irritated. "Stick to the program, or you’re out!"

The model nodded fearfully and scurried away with his head down. Bakugo huffed in exasperation.

"Listen up, you damn extras!" he shouted, capturing everyone’s attention. "The next person who tries to mess with my damn program will be modeling secondhand clothes in their own house! This is my collection, so do your damn job!"

A smug smile curled on his lips as he watched everyone scramble frantically. He loved having control. He was one of the best designers in the industry, and everyone knew it. A single snap of Katsuki’s fingers could ruin their pathetic careers.

"Wow, I can practically see your demon tail wagging," a familiar, teasing voice said beside him. "Give them a break."

"If they want to relax, they can go home," he shot back, feeling extra weight settle on his shoulders. "And you’re no exception, Eijiro! If you hesitate on that runway, I’m sending you back to the damn workshop."

Eijiro let out a hearty laugh, stepping closer.

"You wouldn’t last a day without me," he murmured near Bakugo’s ear.

Bakugo jabbed his elbow into his stomach.

"Who the hell needs you, idiot?! I could find Alphas like you anywhere in Korea!" he barked as Eijiro kept laughing.

"Okay, okay. My bad," he said, finally controlling his chuckles. "I’m just nervous, that’s all. Tell me, how do I look?" He spun around to show off his outfit.

Bakugo scowled.

"Who the hell did your stupid hair?! There’s a theme! I’m going to kill the moron responsible!"

Just as he was about to fire the stylist, another assistant ran up to him, panting, phone in hand.

"Mr. Bakugo, s-sir!" he stammered, trying to catch his breath. "You have a call."

"I told you I’m not taking calls! Do you not see what the hell we’re doing?!"

The poor assistant shrank under the Alpha’s glare.

"It’s from Mr. Shoto Todoroki. I thought—"

"I don’t care if it’s the damn President—I’m busy! Tell him to call later!"

"Isn’t that the friend who called you yesterday?" Kirishima chimed in. "Might be important. Just answer."

Bakugo scowled, irritated by the interruption. He didn’t have time for drama.

"Come on, I’ll handle this," Kirishima said, pointing at his hair. "Yeah?"

Bakugo rolled his eyes and snatched the phone from the assistant’s hands.

"If you look worse, you’re fired!" he yelled before putting the phone to his ear.

"Stupid secretary, I thought I told you to stop bothering me!"

"It’s Shoto."

Bakugo scoffed.

"So, you're not some wild beast anymore?" he muttered, walking toward the backstage. "What do you want now?"

"I just wanted to thank you for… helping Sero."

"You have to be kidding me. You called just for that?" Bakugo groaned, spotting a pair of Alphas practicing their walk. "Put more energy into those damn steps!"

"Is this a bad time?"

"What the hell do you think, idiot? There’s a reason I didn’t go to your stupid wedding! I’ve been flying back and forth between Korea and China for the past two damn weeks!"

"Sorry, I’ll call later."

Bakugo exhaled, frustrated, and stepped into a quieter corner.

"Are you pulling the martyr act now? You don’t call just for nonsense. What happened?"

"I… knotted and marked him."

"Okay," Bakugo said, rubbing his temple. "But you took the Axidrol I gave you before doing it, right?"

"Yeah…"

"Then there’s no problem! Nothing could have survived inside your damn dick! Why are you freaking out?!"

"It’s just… before that, I gave him Estroban."

"WHAT?!" Bakugo’s voice echoed through the backstage, drawing everyone’s attention. "I told you those drugs aren’t a damn game, Todoroki! For fuck’s sake, I warned you! Axidrol is strong, but Estroban? You gave it to him without telling him?!"

"I put it in his drink…"

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Bakugo exploded. "Are you sure you  have a damn brain in that stupid head of yours?! I told you a thousand times, you don’t mix those drugs!"

"But I was the only one who took Axidrol!"

"Yeah, but you gave him Estroban! His body would’ve absorbed the Axidrol from your disgusting semen! And I repeat—those drugs do NOT mix! Especially when you’re marking an Omega!"

"I didn’t mean to mark him! It’s just… when he came into the room, he smelled like someone else, and then I just lost control. And he was making these—these fucking faces—"

"Ugh, SHUT UP, I don’t wanna hear it!" Bakugo said in disgust. "Have you at least tried to get his hormone levels down?!"

"How?"

"Oh, by picking flowers in the park-  By fucking him, you idiot! Do you even want to?!"

"More than you can imagine," Shoto admitted. "But I thought it was just the post-marking heat. That’s why I haven’t done anything—I don’t want him to… you know, end up pregnant."

"What you SHOULD be worried about is that Omega not being in the hospital right now!" Bakugo snapped, his voice laced with fury.

When Shoto didn’t answer immediately, Bakugo continued, "Is he? In the hospital?"

"He… left the hotel clinic a few hours ago," Shoto admitted. "But I haven’t seen him. We fought yesterday."

"I am using every ounce of my self-control not to hang up on you right now," Bakugo muttered in frustration. "Do you hate him so much that you want to kill him?"

"How could you even think that?! Of course not!" Shoto snapped, outraged.

"How do you expect me not to think that after all the complaining I’ve heard about him?! I almost feel bad for the guy! Being around you must feel like a constant kick in the ass!"

"You’re not helping," Shoto growled.

"And who the hell said I would?!" Bakugo scoffed, glancing at one of the organizers signaling for him from across the backstage. "Listen, as much as I’d love to keep listening to your dumbass mistakes, I’m busy. So grow a damn pair and fix the mess you made."

Shoto pressed his lips together, swallowing his pride. He knew Bakugo was right—but that didn’t make the truth any easier to accept.

"And how the hell am I supposed to fix it?" he muttered through clenched teeth.

"I have no fucking clue," Bakugo replied without hesitation.