strangled

³⁹the truth of the matter

next day...
the todoroki household

You hesitate before knocking on the door.

The last time you were here, things ended off horribly. Shivers run through your body as memories return.

The way Enji beat you, the sound of Natsuo's shouting, the reaction that Shouto had when he didn't even try to help you. Just being inside this house will be traumatizing. However, you aren't planning on staying inside for long. You only need to make your way to the backyard so you can go through to back gate and reach the mountainous hillside.

Hanging on your right shoulder is a big picnic basket filled to the brim with all the foods and drinks you could need, all of them are things both you and you friend had loved to eat together.

In your left hand you have a picnic blanket and a regular blanket. The one for picnics will go on the ground and when you're tired you'll have something to cover your body to make sure you don't get cold. In case it begins to rain, an umbrella is also being held in the hand.

A book and your phone is in your right hand.

Your fist knocks on the door after another moment of hesitation.

It opens almost immediately, a familiar white-haired male revealing himself as he steps out in front of you.

His cheeks are flushed pink, his chest heaving like he just ran a mile. He's not wearing any clothes besides his underwear that had been haphazardly pulled on.

That's when you see a woman, only in her bra and panties, peeking out from behind him.

You frown, "Oh... I hope I didn't interrupt anything."

His eyes widen as he pushes the woman behind him, trying to hide her from you. It's obvious that he quickly is starting to internally begin to panic.

"(F/n)!? What are you doing here!?"

"I come here every year on this day." You stiffly say. "It's Touya's birthday..."

"Oh shit I forgot. Listen, I can explain. Okay? Me and Yui weren't doing anything I promise. Well we kinda were but... I-I'm sorry. She's just a one-night-stand, or a one-day-stand since it's still sunny out. I swear she's nothing special to me. God, you probably hate me now..."

Your eyebrows furrow. "What?"

He hides his face in his hands. "I feel like I just cheated or something."

"Cheated? What are you talking about? We aren't dating."

"Yeah...but I know that you like me so-"

"Have you been drinking? I think you had too much." You chuckle. "Relax, I'm not mad. I just need to get to the backyard. Hey, everybody has needs right? You're the only one in the Todoroki family that's still alive and not married or dating so... of course you're going to invite girls over to satisfy you. The person you should be worried about finding out, is your dad. Your father isn't home is he? Where's your mom?"

A perplexed look is on his face as he responds. "Enji is home because he decided to take the day off, but he's been in his room for hours. Mom isn't home. She went grocery shopping with sis."