All for One knew that Todoroki was the easiest to break. He was simple to manipulate and believed everything. No wonder Midoriya took an interest in the heterochromia male. Shouto was an excellent example that Midoriya was too soft. Love was a weakness, a disease that makes you weak. He wasn't going to permit his son to become ineffective just because he fell in love. He knew that his son was a part of the Anarchy since his alias was evident. The Shadow Killer represented Midoriya's greatest fear and displayed his weakness. Midoriya was terrified of becoming like his father. The green-haired boy didn't realize that he was already on the track to becoming just like him. That was until he got distracted by love and revealed his weakness. Shouto Todoroki was his weakness. He had to get rid of Midoriya's weakness.

He kept tabs on Midoriya's friends and family to make sure none of them stepped out of line. Todoroki didn't have a chance with Midoriya because of Todoroki's history with love. It was tempting not to kill the boy already for being a problem. All for One had cameras installed in their homes to keep a close eye on them. He couldn't stop Midoriya's love confession from happening. Todoroki asked Midoriya to leave, and he was soon left alone. All for One switched the footage to see Todoroki observing an image of him and Inasa.

Todoroki was still in love with the man that brought him so much pain. He could use this to his advantage and use it against the boy. Inasa Yoarashi was the man in the photograph that represented Todoroki's weakness. Todoroki was stuck in the past and couldn't move past from his past lover. He could keep this boy in line if he talks to Yoarashi. Midoriya didn't need any distractions, and once he gets what he needs. He'll crush the Anarchy under his feet and leave only the ashes behind.

*****

Inasa was Todoroki's rebound. He couldn't let go of his love for his past lover. He wished he wasn't so weak. His heartstrings tangled into millions of knots that kept him bound to his past. He couldn't let go of the past and his feelings for Inasa. He knew that Midoriya deserved so much better than him. Love was no longer an option for Shouto to chose. No one would want a broken boy as their partner. He didn't deserve to be loved by anyone. The past was bound to repeat, and he couldn't deal with the pain any longer.

"Who would ever love you?"

His father's words echoed in his mind and played like an old record player. He tried to ignore his words, but he couldn't. His old man repeated the same sentence non-stop to make sure Todoroki accepted it. He couldn't forget the sentence that caused him so much pain.

"I love you."

He didn't trust that sentence that caused him so much pain. He couldn't handle the lies and the stupid things they say. He didn't understand how someone could ever love him when they caused him so much pain. The old scars remained on Todoroki's body and held him back from moving on. He didn't know that he loved Midoriya when the pain was crushing him into pieces. Todoroki needed a savior, but who could save him from the pain. He built his walls too high to prevent himself from getting hurt again. He was drowning in disbelief, and it was eating him up. The memories blinded him from looking forward. The past reminded him of his mistakes and trapped him in metal chains. He didn't realize that he was forcing the chains to hold him back. He couldn't let of his past that bounds him to Inasa.

Todoroki didn't realize that he was the reason he couldn't move on. He was holding onto the past and struggling to let go. Todoroki wasn't letting go, and he wished his heart spoke clearer. He needed to let go, but how could he let go when the past held him back. He hid his feelings away and pretended that he wasn't hurting. He didn't have the courage to leave it behind. Midoriya tried to help him realize that the past couldn't hurt him any longer. He wondered how he could let this go when the chains grew thicker. He couldn't stop the memories from pulling him back. He loved him, and that held him back. He wished his mind wasn't struggling against the darkness and let him move on. He couldn't think properly.

He wanted everything to stop. He didn't want to feel this pain anymore. He wanted to be with Midoriya, but why was his mind struggling to accept this. He needed to stop! He needed to break out of these chains and find peace with himself. Todoroki accepted Inasa's confession and realized that he had to break out of the endless cycle. He couldn't let his father control his life. It was his life to live, not his. His heart was telling him to end this cycle and accept his past. He was confident that he was capable of accomplishing his goals.

"You think you can move on? No one will love you. You're useless, unworthy to be loved by anyone. Midoriya pities you! He doesn't love you! You're willing to believe everything anyone tells you."

Todoroki tried to hide these thoughts from affecting him. He needed to move past this and accept his past. He couldn't do that if he let these chains bound him to the past. His heart was telling him to move past this while his mind was struggling to follow. Right now, he was struggling to let go of his feelings for Yoarashi. He forgets everything he promised to himself. His walls crumbled into pieces as he held onto Inasa. He couldn't stand on his feet when it came to Inasa. It wasn't easy for him to move past his feelings. His friends would yell at him for thinking that he could still love the man that caused him so much pain. He promised himself that he wouldn't fall back into Inasa's arms, but he lied.

*****

Todoroki held onto Yoarashi's jacket as Yoarashi rubbed his back. He never wanted anyone to see him at his worst, but right now, he didn't even care. Shouto finally pulled away to see Inasa's concern lacing his eyes. Inasa wiped the tears away from Shouto's eyes and looked into the boy's mismatched eyes, "We can't change the past. Nothing I can say will ever heal the pain I caused you." Todoroki wished that his mind was betraying him. Shouto was unsure if he was ready to let go of Inasa.

Todoroki choked on his tears, "Why does it hurt so much?" Inasa never wanted to hear Shouto say this in that tone. "I love you still," Shouto admitted. He looked into Inasa's eyes, "I-I can't hate you. I should hate you for everything you did to me, but I can't!" Yoarashi wished that he told Todoroki the truth instead of hurting him. He was an idiot to think that Shouto was going to be okay. Three years of abuse broke Shouto down and kept him from moving on. Shouto relied on him to help him pick up the pieces, but he was the one that caused him this pain. Shouto was suffering from his past, and he had no one to help him.

Right now, he wanted to forget the pain. He wasn't thinking clearly. Shouto looked into past lover's eyes and then kissed him. It caught Inasa off guard when the boy climbed onto his lap to kiss him. Inasa pushed Shouto away, "Sho, stop. You're not thinking straight." Shouto shook his head and bit his bottom lip, "No, I want to do this." Inasa grabbed Shouto by the shoulders and shook his head. He didn't believe that Shouto wanted this.

"Sho, look me in the eyes and tell me the truth." Shouto looked up, "I want this. Please, just once." Inasa could see the tears threatening to spill. Todoroki was forcing himself to believe that he was okay with this. "You're not in the right mind to make this decision. I know you don't want this. I know that you want to stay the hell away from me. You don't want this. Tell me the truth, Shouto." Shouto choked on his tears and covered his mouth, "I don't want to feel this pain anymore." Shouto couldn't handle it anymore. He wanted it to go away. He didn't want to remember every shitty thing that happened to him. He wanted it to go away. "Sho, I can't take the pain away." Todoroki looked down in shame, "I understand." Inasa stood up and held a hand out for him.

"Come on, my family probably already left." Todoroki looked at Inasa's hand and took it. They walked inside to see Yoarashi's family members getting ready to leave. They didn't realize how late it was since they were outside talking. Todoroki saw Yoarashi's mother walk over to them, "Todoroki, honey, your eyes are red and puffy." Yoarashi's mother placed her hands on Todoroki's face. "It's nothing, Yoarashi-san." She nods her head and then kisses his forehead, "You look exhausted. Please get some rest." She hugged Shouto, and the boy returned the hug. Ms. Yoarashi's hugs reminded him of his mother's hugs. He bit down the whimper when she pulled away. Inasa closed the door when they left the house, "Sho, if you want me too, I can escort you home. I know you don't want to be here."

Todoroki could see the guilt lacing Inasa's facial expressions. "You don't have to worry about me. I can take care of myself," Shouto admitted. "I know you can. I don't want anything happening to you." Shouto grew flustered at Inasa's words. He hated it when people thought that he needed protection. He was Night-Flame, one of the most feared killers in Japan. He could protect himself. He was capable of taking care of himself.

Todoroki couldn't trust himself around Inasa. He wanted to leave despite his fears. He didn't know why he was afraid of being alone with Inasa. He should've learned that he was picking at old wounds. It made his heartache. He wanted Inasa to hold him and tell him that everything is going to be okay. His mind flashed to Midoriya. The green-haired boy saved him from all of this and helped him at his worst. He wondered if he deserved to be with Midoriyam, or was he destined to fall back into Inasa's arms. Midoriya's confession echoed in his mind and wondered if Midoriya did love him. His heart was telling him to go with Midoriya, but his mind was telling him something different.

Right now, he wanted to go home and think over everything. He wasn't in a positive mindset to decide who to choose. His head hurt so much, 'I should've never to see him. I can't rid of this feeling. Why couldn't life be easier?'

Todoroki started walking towards the door, "I'm going to head home." Inasa grabbed Shouto's hand and pulled him close. "It's dangerous out there," he protested. "I can protect myself." Inasa hugged him, "You're stubborn, Shouto. That isn't going to stop me from worrying." Shouto saw how close they were and kissed him. Inasa forgot about everything when he pressed the boy against the door. Shouto moaned each time Inasa nibbled on his neck. "You're beautiful, Sho." Shouto grabbed onto Inasa's shirt tightly and wanted more. He didn't realize how wrong this was. He should've known this was wrong, but he didn't care. He wanted it all to go away. Before he even knew it, they were heading to the bedroom.

Todoroki woke up with his back against Inasa's chest and his arms around his waist. He sighed in content when Inasa buried his face in his neck, 'Last night was a mistake.' He let Inasa touch him again like before. He felt sick to his stomach. He promised himself that he wouldn't fall back into Inasa's arms, but he lied.