#fuyumi todoroki (wants/desires)

[peachsukii]

⭑˚. ⇢ you make a gift for katsuki's 18th birthday.

-`☆ day one of the explosive birthday celebration ! ☆´-

It's the week of Bakugo's 18th birthday - you and all of class A have plenty of plans arranged to make it special for him! You know he's going to feign ignorance, like he doesn't care about all of the love and support, but deep down is a sucker for it. Midoriya and Kirishima had all of the party supplies ready to go, stored secretly in their dorm rooms. Sato bought all the ingredients he'd need to make snacks and a cake for the party while the girls stashed away a bunch of party favors, splitting up everything between their rooms. Everyone was ready to celebrate their favorite explosive hero!

There's was just one thing left for you to do - find him a present.

What exactly did Bakugo want? He never vocalized desiring anything material in nature, not even All Might memorabilia. Getting him a gift card felt a little flat for such a milestone birthday, you wanted him to feel appreciated. With everything the class has gone through in the last three years, especially him and Midoriya, he deserved to be spoiled and shown how important he is to everyone.

In your mind, you went through the things Bakugo liked: hiking, cooking, All Might, spicy foods...maybe novels? You'd heard from Midoriya that he loves to read, but you didn't press him on what exactly his favorite genre was. Scribbling a bunch of ideas into a notebook, you brainstormed for awhile before the perfect inspiration struck - you can make him something!

Immediately, you call Midoriya to run your idea by him.

"Hey! What's up?" he answers cheerfully.

"Hi Izuku! I'm prepping a present for Katsuki's birthday and wanted to get your input. You got a few minutes?"

"Of course! What did you have in mind?" Midoriya seemed pleased that you chose him to help with your little creation for his best friend.

"Here's what I'm thinking..."

───

Later in the day, you return from the craft store with Midoriya, a couple of bags in hand with supplies for your gift. He helps you carry everything back to your dorm room and unloads it all onto your desk.

"Do you want any help making the book?" he offers.

"I think I'll be alright, but if you could get that recipe from Shoto, that would be a huge help!" You dump the supplies out onto your desk, spreading everything out neatly to begin working.

"Sure! I'll go ask him for it now. I'll be back soon!"

Midoriya exits your room quietly as you take a seat at your desk, prepping to start working on Bakugo's present. It wasn't anything fancy or flashy, but thought the sentiment was worth more than any lame gift card. You'd decided to make him a custom recipe booklet! It would be blank, with the exception of one recipe, for him to fill in as time goes on. You know how much he loves to cook and thought it would be handy to keep his favorite meals in one place. The first recipe would be a surprise - Fuyumi's mapo tofu recipe. Bakugo wouldn't shut up about it for weeks after going to Todoroki's house for dinner back in their first year. He more than likely had it, but having it be the first in the book sounds like a decent surprise.

A few hours and paper cuts later, you've crafted a cute little recipe booklet, bound with black rings and packed with subtly decorated pages. You chose not to theme the entire thing, more so just adding in areas for him to fill in instructions, ingredients and cooking time to the pages for reference. The cover was a burnt orange with a blank label on the front, plastered with a bunch of bright stickers of various styles - smiley faces, leaves, stars, food and other accenting themes. You didn't want to assume what Bakugo would want to label it, so you left it blank with some letter sticker sheets inside the cover. The rings are able to be opened, that way he can add additional pages in the future and expand the collection.

Your phone buzzes on the corner of your desk, a text notification from Midoriya appearing on screen.

[Izuku] stopping by with the recipe! [You] great! doors open, just come in when you're here

Midoriya knocks on your door a few minutes later, slipping inside your room and waltzing over to your desk. He looks down at the book you've crafted, eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Awww! This is so cool, he's going to absolutely love this. Don't be offended if he doesn't say it though," he jokes, shaking his head with a smile on his face. "You know he's still not great at expressing that kinda thing."

He hands you the recipe on a piece of paper. "Here, I wrote it down for you. Fuyumi's ecstatic you asked for it!"

"Thank you!" you gleam, studying the page's contents. "This'll work perfectly."

Midoriya leaves you to finish your present in peace. You copy over the recipe information onto the first page, organizing it neatly by the sections you created. It's finally finished! At least, that's what you thought until one last detail popped into your head.

Grabbing a black marker, you add in a short and sweet message to the inside cover of the book: "Happy 18th birthday Kats! Looking forward to years of your cooking. - ♡ (Y/N)"

Your heart flutters in your chest as you stare at the words, hoping he'll smile seeing it anytime he opens his recipe book. You grab the muted orange wrapping paper and neatly fold and tuck the book into it, tying it together with a black bow.

Waiting until the end of the week to see his reaction is going to be torture, but worth the wait to see him smile.

extremely flattered to be included in kae's bakugo birthday celebration series! be sure to check out each story this week leading up to his birthday on 4/20 ♡

⇢ master post

-`☆ ᴅᴀʏ ᴏɴᴇ: Coming April 14th - @zanarkandskylines

ᴅᴀʏ ᴛᴡᴏ: Coming April 15th - @xbabyd0lli3x

ᴅᴀʏ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ: Coming April 16th - @angels-fantasy

ᴅᴀʏ ꜰᴏᴜʀ: Coming April 17th - @starieq

ᴅᴀʏ ꜰɪᴠᴇ: Coming April 18th - @lowkeyremi

ᴅᴀʏ ꜱɪx: Coming April 19th - @queenpiranhadon

ᴅᴀʏ ꜱᴇᴠᴇɴ: Coming April 20th - @cashmoneyyysstuff

((inspo for the recipe book! it would obvi not be as aesthetic when he'd use it lol but it would have a little decorative templates for him to fill in)) 💥🎁 tags; @gina239 - @mystic60 - @meowze4r - @icedemon1314 - @bigsimpo343 - @ah-mya - @whezdostuff - @berry-vioo - @seonne - @slayfics

[cherryblossombankai]

My Love is Mine All Mine - Part Two: Happiness is a butterfly

Part One Pairing: Enji Todoroki x Fem!Reader Word Count: 2.2k Summary: Your relationship with Enji has been blossoming in secret, but new developments will force you to tell his kids the truth. Warnings: pregnancy, interrupted smut, fem!reader, family drama, age gap romance, family trauma Tag List: @pixelcafe-network, @actuallysaiyan, @sweet-chocolate-sweet, @helloiamadrawer, @satorustar, @missmadness123, @keiva1000, @copolite01

Enji couldn’t believe a love like this truly entered his life. After all he’s done, the family he threw away, he doesn’t believe he deserves it. In the days following your heated kitchen confessions, he began to realize you made a mistake and kept waiting for you to realize it too. 

He’s old enough to be your father. He’s a broken-down hero and a shell of a man. Every morning when he wakes up next to you, he’s surprised you’re still there. He relishes being here with you, having his hands on you and being able to kiss you. He greedily takes all he can get in fear that one morning you’ll wake up and realize you’re throwing your life away for him. 

But it’s not this morning. No, this morning you’re waking him up with your lips on his neck. You’re biting down gently, leaving a fresh mark on top of a recently healed one. Your gentle fingers are toying with his fiery red pubic hair and teasing the base of his cock. He tilts his head towards you, his neck stiff. His arm is a little numb from you sleeping on it. 

“Mm, good morning,” you purr against his ear before leaning down to kiss his chest. Your hand moves lower to wrap around his morning wood and you begin stroking him. 

“Good morning to you too,” he smirks before leaning in to kiss you. You nip at his lip playfully. 

“Fuyumi are coming over today, right?” you ask softly. 

“Mhm.” 

“But later, right? We have time?” you giggle. 

“We have time,” he pulls you in for a deep kiss. 

Despite the passion growing between the two of you, the love that had blossomed, you’d been discreet. Nobody knew about your relationship. Enji had been honest with you about his past, and his desire to rebuild his relationships with his family. You’d agreed to take your time, to keep things quiet until he was ready to tell them. It was hard to keep it a secret and act like nothing was happening between you every time they visited, but you wanted to be good for him. He deserves to be able to take his time. 

You pull away from his kiss and begin kissing your way down his chest. You drag your tongue over one of his nipples before moving down further and kissing his tummy. He still exercises a bit, but retired life has made him soft. He’d been embarrassed the first time you were fully naked together, but you were all over him immediately. 

“Spoiling me this morning?” he asks as you settle between his big thighs. You kiss his thighs softly before kissing the tip of his cock. 

“Well, you did spoil me last night,” you giggle. “I just want to return the favor.” 

He reaches down to run his fingers through your hair, his eyes are gentle on your face. You suck on the tip of his cock, lapping up the precum leaking from it. You stroke him as you begin taking him deeper down your throat. He rests his prosthetic arm at his side. 

You’re almost deep-throating him when his phone rings. You start to pull away, but he holds you in place. 

“Don’t stop. I’ll let it ring,” he says. 

You hum softly around his cock, and continue taking him deeper down your throat. He arches his back when he bottoms out down your throat. You moan for him, and you move up and down his cock. He’s a moaning mess, but then his phone rings again. He glances over and sees it’s Fuyumi calling. 

“Fuck, she’ll keep calling if I don’t answer,” he sighs. 

You pull off his cock with a soft pop. “Then, answer.” 

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he smiles sheepishly before grabbing his phone off the nightstand and answering Fuyumi. 

You crawl out of bed and pull on his t-shirt from last night. It falls past your thighs. He watches as you saunter off to the adjoining bathroom, but you’re careful not to make too much noise as you begin your morning routine. After washing your face, you head downstairs to start breakfast. 

Enji sits outside on the porch talking to Fuyumi on the phone. You smile softly as you watch him. He’s patient and gentle. Even though she’s chatting away and he doesn’t enjoy phone calls at the best of times, he never grows weary of talking to her. 

He’d be a good father now, you think. Although he’d probably shrug off the idea of starting over. The thought then leads to a spiral…When was your last period? 

“Shit,” you run to the bedroom and grab your calendar out of your purse. You count back the days and realize you’d skipped a period. You’re not surprised you didn’t notice. It was just another week of amazing sex you took for granted. 

Enji comes to the bedroom just in time to see you throwing on your clothes. 

“Hey, hey, what’s going on?” he asks when he notices how frantic you seem. 

“I just uhm, need to go to the store,” you explain. “I’ll be back soon.” 

“Should I come?I can drive you,” he offers. 

“No, no, it’s okay. Really!” you sit on the edge of the bed and pull on your shoes. “Is everything okay with Fuyumi?” 

“Ah, well, that’s something we should talk about. My son, Touya, is ready to come home.” 

You pause between shoes and look up at him. He’s apprehensive to show you just how thrilled he is about this news. Inside you’re panicking. It’s too much, isn’t it? Touya coming home is wonderful, and he deserves this time with his father. To have Enji’s eyes on him like he always wanted. If you’re pregnant, it could ruin everything. A pang of guilt hits your stomach. How could you let this happen? You thought you were so careful with your birth control. 

“He wants to stay with me,” Enji explains. “So, I was thinking maybe it’s time we tell everyone about us. He might feel differently if he knows, and maybe you will too now.” 

“Enji,” you stand up and place your hands on his shoulders. “I have to go. I’ll be right back.”

And there it is, he watches you leave and he can only assume this is the last time. He sits on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands. The moment when you awaken and realize he’s not what you want. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

When you come back to the house. Fuyumi’s car is already in the driveway. Luckily, you’d picked up more than just pregnancy tests so it’ll look like you’re just arriving for the day. You come into the front door, and Enji’s eyes immediately meet yours. He’s shocked you’re back, but he tries to keep calm in front of Fuyumi. 

“Good morning, sir,” you smile sweetly and bow your head. “Hi, Fuyumi!” 

“Hello!” she greets you back cheerfully before disappearing into the second bedroom. 

“She’s getting it ready for Touya,” Enji explains. He waits until she’s busy again before coming over to you. He takes your hand in his. “Are you alright?” 

“Y-yes, I’m just a little queasy,” you smile softly. You kiss his cheek. “I love you.” 

His heart lightens when you say those three little words. He kisses your temple quickly, “I love you too. I better go help Fuyumi.” 

“Alright,” you smile. It fades into a worried frown when he leaves the room. You grab the pregnancy tests and take them to the bathroom. Your hands are shaking when you open the boxes to read the instructions. 

You finally get up the nerve to take one, then the other. You cap the stick and leave them on the counter to wait for the results. The next few minutes are the longest of your life. You pace back and forth, chewing nervously on your thumbnail. The time on your phone goes off, and you get the nerve up to check the tests. 

A pair of little pink plus signs stare back at you. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Fuyumi leaves that afternoon with promises of coming back in a few days with Touya. Enji watches as you clean up the kitchen. He can tell you’re tense about something, but he has no idea what. 

“Sweetheart, come here,” he calls for you. “Come sit with me.” 

You smile softly at him and come to sit on his lap, careful not to sit on his bad leg. You wrap your arms around his neck, and you kiss him deeply. 

“Talk to me,” he says gently. “Tell me what’s going on with you.” 

“What? Is it that obvious?” you blush. 

“Mm, just a bit.” 

You lean against his shoulder and hold his hand in yours. Your fingers delicately trace over his knuckles. You’re so nervous to say anything, but you know you have to tell him. 

“We’re…Uhm…Well, I’m…” you trail off, unable to find the words. Tears sting your eyes because you’re so certain he won’t be happy with what’s next. 

His brows furrow with concern as he watches you struggle. He wraps his arms around you, “Baby, whatever it is, you can tell me.” 

“I know, I just…” you shake your head. “Maybe I should just show you.” 

You get off of his lap and you go to the bathroom again. You get the pregnancy tests out of the drawer you’d tucked them away in. The plus signs are still as clear as day, cheerfully pink as though your future wasn’t hanging in the balance. 

Enji is sitting on the sofa, dazed and confused by what’s going on with you. Finally, he looks up at you. Instead of saying anything, you hand him the pregnancy tests. He stares at them dumbfounded and then looks up at you. 

“P-pregnant,” he says softly. For a long time after uttering that word, he sits in silence. The tests look tiny in his large hands, and he stares at them. 

“Please, say something,” you plead. 

When he looks at you again, his eyes are full of tears. His bottom lip trembles, and he wants to say something but he’s so afraid to say the wrong thing. To hurt your feelings, or worse to make you feel any pressure to go through with the pregnancy, would be a nightmare. He cups your face gently in his hands. 

“How do you feel?” he asks softly. 

“I feel—” you hesitate, and then a smile breaks out across your face. “—excited! Yeah, I feel really excited!” 

“In that case, this is wonderful news,” he whispers. 

At those words, your entire body relaxes. You laugh as tears of joy well up in your eyes. You look up at him, seeing your happiness reflected in his eyes. He leans down to kiss you deeply. He’s gentler with you now, his hands are tender. 

“I’m so relieved,” you say when he breaks the kiss. He rests his forehead against yours. 

 “You should’ve told me sooner, baby. I would’ve sat with you while you took the tests.” 

Your heart races, “I’m sorry. I just wasn’t sure how you’d feel, with your son coming home and everything. I was so nervous about how you’d feel.” 

“I know, I know,” he sighs softly. He sits down on the bed, holding your hands in his. There’s so much to worry about, to think of. He wants to lose himself in this good news, but there are things that need to be done. 

“We’ll work it out, together,” you say sweetly. 

“Just like that, hm?” he smiles softly. 

“Yep,” you lean down to kiss him again. “Just like that.” 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

‘Just like that’ wasn’t as easy as you’d hoped. The reactions to his news were mixed at best. Shoto was surprised to learn of the relationship between you and Enji, but even more so had seemed a little grossed out at the thought of his father making a baby. Natsuo was annoyed by the whole thing, and mostly worried how this child will be raised. Fuyumi felt betrayed that she hadn’t been made privy to the relationship sooner, and now there’s a baby on the way. You might as well have eloped without telling her. 

Then, there was Touya. Enji had gone to the hospital to see him a couple days before he was set for release. You’re not sure how that conversation went, but when Enji came home he locked himself in the bedroom. When you pressed your ear to the door, you could hear him crying.

He came out of the bedroom a while later, his eyes red and puffy. You come to him, standing up on your tippy toes to kiss him softly. He’s quick to wrap his arms around you, and he leans down to kiss you back. 

“Is everything okay?” you ask him. 

“I’m alright…Just visiting Touya today…it got to me, but it was between us.” 

“I understand,” you stroke his cheek. “Can I help somehow?” 

“Just let me hold you a little while, yeah?” 

You nod eagerly and grab his hand to drag him to the sofa with you. “I get to pick the movie.”

[todorokistheories]

Why I'll Never Forgive Endeavor - An Analysis

tw: abuse, domestic violence, dehumanization, and everything you expect to come with talking about the todorokis

Endeavor was right in calling Shouto a masterpiece, because that's all he ever was to him. Just a canvas to imprint whatever beliefs he had onto. Shouto was never made to be a person. He was made to be an object, an immovable force, something Endeavor can sculpt to his desire.

We see this through Shouto's demeanor. His inability to show emotions the way others do to that extreme of a level is usually a trauma response. He's purposefully blank, lest he face the wrath of Endeavor noticing the stain on his perfect painting.

Dabi even mentions this.

Endeavor wasn't the only one who saw Shouto as a means to an end. Dabi did too. He calls Shouto a puppet and trophy son throughout the series genuinely does not seem to consider that he has feelings at all. He wants to break him, because Shouto was given the life he was promised, but he can't see past what Endeavor told him to be like class 1a did.

Dabi's plotline was never about reconciling with Shouto, it was about destroying everything Endeavor thought made him great.

Endeavor controlled every moment of Shouto's life from the day he was born. Training, probably diet, every single second of every day was planned to expect max power and effort. He wanted a machine that he could show off, like fucking Tony Stark or some shit.

This is why when Midoriya says "it's your power," it's so impactful. He essentially told Shouto "you don't have to be what he made you to be." He was finally given permission to choose, something no one in his life (not even his mother) gave him. When you're a kid like that, you don't have the perspective that you can change. Midoriya believed that he could, so Shouto did.

Shouto wanted his father to see him as valuable outside of what he could do for him. But he never gets that. That is why the ending is so important for Shouto.

Shouto's arc is, at a base level, finding purpose outside of what his father expected.

You know who was given the freedom to do that from the get go?

Touya.

Let's get into the meat of the issue. Endeavor genuinely cared about Touya. He gave him permission to be great. He told him that there is more to his life than being Endeavor's 'mini me' and that Endeavor would support him in what he'd pursue.

He didn't do this with Fuyumi or Natsuo, but I think at this point he would've been willing to care about them if they offered something he thought was valuable. Because at the end of the day, even if Touya wasn't going to be a hero, Endeavor believed he'd still do great things. That he would bring honor to their name.

Endeavor only started caring about how he treated his family once he saw what it did to Dabi. His wife's mental breakdown didn't do it. The disfiguration of his youngest didn't do it. Breaking his child down until all he was was just another puddle of vomit on the floor at the age of five didn't do it. Not even the death of his beloved child did it.

But seeing how he ruined Touya's potential did.

Endeavor's change only came from the knowledge that he was his own ruin. His apologies come from a place of selfishness and it destroyed his family.

The thing that both Shouto and Dabi had in common is that they both just wanted to be enough for Endeavor. And at the end of the day, and the manga, I truly don't think that was ever achieved.

And that is why I can never forgive Endeavor.

[lvoryingrid]

Embers of Sorrow Chapter 1

Hawks x fem! TodorokiReader

Synopsis: Years after her family's trauma, lawyer (Y/n) Todoroki visits her ailing mother with Fuyumi. On her way home, she is attacked by a villain but is saved by Hawks, the No. 2 hero.

Years had passed since that fateful evening, and (Y/n) Todoroki had carved out a life for herself that was distinctly separate from the oppressive shadows of her family's tumultuous past. Now a formidable lawyer dedicated to putting villains behind bars, she had vowed never to follow in her father's footsteps, choosing instead to pursue justice through the law. Her fiery red hair, now a striking cascade of waves, blazed like a beacon, drawing the eye and commanding attention wherever she went. Her turquoise eyes, once innocent and wide, had hardened into mirrors of steely resolve, each glance reflecting a spirit that had been tempered by years of struggle and unwavering determination.

Though she had distanced herself from her father and his overbearing presence, (Y/n) had remained deeply connected with Fuyumi and Natsuo. The three siblings had woven an unbreakable bond from the threads of their shared pain, each thread a testament to their resilience and their collective desire to forge a brighter, kinder future. Together, they had become each other's sanctuary, a living proof that even in the darkest of times, family could be a source of strength and hope.

However, her relationship with Shoto was a different story. Strained and brittle, it bore the scars of their father's relentless and unforgiving training regime, a regime that had left little room for the nurturing of familial bonds. While she admired Shoto's strength and resolve, the emotional distance between them was a chasm she longed to bridge. Each interaction was tinged with the unspoken weight of their shared history, and despite her efforts, the ghost of their father's influence still loomed large, casting a shadow over their attempts to reconnect.

One brisk autumn afternoon, (Y/n) sat in her office, the golden hues of the setting sun casting a warm glow through the window. She was deep in thought, her brows furrowed in concentration as she reviewed a particularly challenging case file. It was about a civilian who had accidentally activated his quirk, resulting in injuries to several bystanders. His claim of not being able to control it seemed genuine, yet the incident's severity demanded careful scrutiny.

Her phone buzzed, breaking the intense silence of the room. She glanced at the screen and saw Fuyumi's name flashing. A small smile tugged at her lips despite the gravity of her work. She picked up the phone, and before Fuyumi even spoke, she could sense the soft, comforting tone in her sister's voice.

"Hey, Fuyumi," (Y/n) greeted, her voice tinged with warmth and a hint of relief.

“(Y/n), how are you doing?” Fuyumi began, her tone genuine and carrying a hint of happiness at the chance to talk to her older sister.

"I'm good. How are you?" (Y/n) replied, slowly putting down the case papers she had been engrossed in. She turned to gaze out the window, her eyes tracing the familiar skyline of the city.

“I just left work and I'm heading to the hospital to see Mom. Do you want to come with me?”

(Y/n) felt a pang of anxiety twist in her chest. Visits to their mother were always fraught with complex emotions. While Fuyumi and Natsuo seemed to find solace in these visits, (Y/n) harbored conflicted feelings. Touya's words echoed in her mind: "Our family is broken. Dad's a monster, and Mom... she's just as responsible for our fate as he is. We were deemed failures from the start." Yet, there was something in Fuyumi’s voice today that felt different, almost hopeful.

“I’ll be there,” she said firmly, pushing aside her doubts.

“Great,” Fuyumi replied, a note of relief in her voice. “I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

As the call ended, (Y/n) leaned back in her chair, her eyes drifting back to the city skyline. The sun was setting, casting a golden hue over the buildings and painting the sky in vibrant shades of orange and pink. It reminded her of the countless sunsets she had watched with her siblings, each one a fleeting moment of peace amidst their turbulent lives. They had dreamed of a future where they could escape their father's crushing expectations and their mother's overwhelming despair.

With a deep breath, (Y/n) stood up, feeling the weight of those dreams and the hope that maybe, just maybe, this visit could be different.

(Y/n) walked through the hospital’s sliding doors, immediately enveloped by the sterile scent of antiseptics and the rhythmic sounds of footsteps and distant conversations. She spotted Fuyumi standing near the lobby's large windows, her expression transforming from weary vigilance to jolly relief as she saw (Y/n) approach.

“Hey,” (Y/n) greeted her softly, pulling her sister into a tight, comforting embrace. “How’s she doing?”

Fuyumi’s face brightened, her grey eyes sparkling with a mixture of hope and lingering apprehension. “The doctors say she’s having a good day,” she replied, her voice a soothing balm to (Y/n)'s frayed nerves. “She’s been more and more relaxed.”

(Y/n)’s heart clenched at the news, a tumultuous swirl of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She took a deep breath, striving to steady herself. “That’s wonderful to hear,” she said, her voice steady but her eyes betraying the storm within. “Let’s go see her.”

Together, the sisters walked down the familiar corridors, their footsteps echoing softly against the polished floors. Each step was a journey through the labyrinth of their shared history, filled with memories and unspoken fears, but also with an unyielding bond of love and resilience.

Rei Todoroki lay in the bed, her once vibrant eyes now dulled by years of pain and medication. The sterile white room, with its muted colors and the beeping of medical equipment, seemed to amplify the contrast between her past vitality and her present frailty. Yet, as her gaze fell upon her daughters, a flicker of recognition and warmth ignited within her eyes.

“Mom,” (Y/n) said softly, approaching the bedside with a mixture of trepidation and hope. “We’re here.”

Rei’s eyes welled with tears, the delicate shimmer betraying the flood of emotions she had long kept at bay. Her hand, though trembling with age and weariness, reached out to grasp (Y/n)’s with a tenderness that spoke of deep, unspoken regret and longing. “My girls,” she whispered, her voice a raspy echo of what it once was. “I’m so glad you came.”

Fuyumi, with her own heart a mosaic of sorrow and solace, pulled a chair close and settled beside their mother. Her expression was a portrait of quiet resolve and tender affection. “Mom, how are you feeling today?” she asked, her voice soothing and filled with genuine concern.

Rei’s frail lips curved into a smile, a gesture that seemed to light up the room despite her physical frailty. “I’m great now that you’re both here,” she said softly, her voice carrying a depth of emotion that transcended her physical state. She held both their hands, her touch a fragile bridge connecting the past and the present, the hurt and the healing.

As the three of them settled into the quiet of the hospital room, the warmth of their reunion began to soften the edges of their unspoken tensions. Fuyumi, always the gentle mediator, took the lead in filling the room with a sense of comfort and normalcy. She chatted with their mother about her work and recent experiences as a school teacher, her voice a soothing thread in the delicate fabric of their conversation.

Rei’s eyes softened as she listened, a smile tugging at her lips. “That sounds wonderful, Fuyumi. I’m so proud of you,” she said, her voice filled with a warmth that seemed to defy her frail state. “You’ve always had such a big heart.”

Fuyumi’s smile widened, and she looked over at (Y/n) with a glimmer of mischief. “And what about you, (Y/n)? How’s the legal world treating you?”

(Y/n) nodded, her own smile touched with a hint of pride. “It’s challenging, but rewarding,” she replied, her voice steady and composed.

Rei’s eyes, though dimmed by the years, lit up with genuine interest. “You’ve always been so driven, (Y/n). It sounds like you’re making a real impact.”

As the conversation continued, (Y/n) observed the interactions between her mother and sister with a sense of detachment. Despite the outward calm she maintained, a storm of emotions brewed beneath her composed exterior. She had never felt particularly close to her parents, and her relationship with them remained strained by the weight of their past. The scars of her upbringing lingered, and while she wore a facade of serenity, it masked the turmoil she felt inside.

(Y/n) turned her gaze to the window, watching the last rays of sunlight dance across the city skyline. She thought about the countless times she had tried to bridge the gaps within her family, only to find herself on the fringes of their emotional landscape. The distance between them was not just physical but emotional, forged in the fires of their shared history and the painful legacies of their upbringing.

Rei’s gaze shifted from Fuyumi to (Y/n) with a soft, inquisitive look. Despite her frail state, there was a genuine curiosity in her eyes. “So, my dears,” she began, her voice tender, “how are your brothers doing? I haven’t heard much from them lately.”

Fuyumi’s face brightened with a playful glimmer in her eyes. She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice with a conspiratorial tone. “Well, Mom, Natsuo has been quite busy lately. In fact, I think he might have a girlfriend.”

(Y/n)’s eyes widened with mock surprise, and she let out a soft, amused giggle. “Really now? That’s news to me!" Fuyumi chuckled, a mischievous sparkle dancing in her eyes. “He’s definitely been spending a lot of time away from home. You know how secretive he is about those things"

(Y/n) laughed softly, her earlier tension easing with the light-hearted exchange. “Ah, Natsuo. He’s always been so serious about his studies, so it’s nice to hear he’s got a bit of romance in his life. I remember how he used to turn red whenever I’d tease him about his crushes."

Rei’s eyes twinkled with amusement, and she managed a weak but genuine smile. “It sounds like he’s growing up and finding his own way. I’m glad to hear he’s happy. And what about Shoto? How is he?”

The mention of Shoto brought a subtle shift in (Y/n)’s demeanor. She took a moment to gather her thoughts before responding. “Shoto is... well, he’s still the same as ever. Dedicated to his hero work study and determined as always. We haven’t had much chance to catch up recently, but I know he’s been keeping busy.”

Fuyumi nodded in agreement. “He’s been doing great with his hero duties. He’s always been so committed to his role, and while he doesn’t always show it, I think he’s finding a way to balance his hero work and personal life.”

Rei’s face softened with understanding, though a shadow of concern lingered in her eyes. “I’m glad to hear he’s doing well, even if it’s from a distance. I know he’s had a lot to carry on his shoulders.”

(Y/n) looked at her mother, feeling the weight of her words. “Yes, he does. We’ve all had our own struggles, but we’re managing. We’re a bit of a patchwork family, but we’re making it work.”

The conversation drifted into lighter topics, the sisters sharing anecdotes about their daily lives and their moments of respite amidst their responsibilities. For a brief time, the room felt filled with the echoes of laughter and shared memories, a small island of peace in the sea of their complex emotions.

The hospital room was bathed in the soft hum of the night, a serene lull enveloping the space as Fuyumi and (Y/n) prepared to part ways. The air seemed to hold its breath as Fuyumi, with deliberate and tender movements, leaned in to press a gentle kiss to their mother’s cheek. Her touch was light, but it carried the weight of a promise.

“I’ll visit again soon, Mom,” she whispered, her voice a soothing balm that spoke of unwavering love and commitment.

(Y/n) followed, her heart heavy with the sorrow of impending goodbyes. She brushed a stray strand of hair from their mother’s face, her fingers lingering in a gesture of affectionate farewell. “Take care, Mom. We’ll see you soon,” she murmured, her voice trembling with the ache of her emotions.

With their farewells spoken, the sisters turned away reluctantly, the dim glow of the hallway lights casting a gentle, melancholic hue over their retreating forms. As they walked together towards the hospital’s entrance, the silence between them was a canvas of quiet reflection, each lost in their own reverie.

Fuyumi was the first to break the silence, her voice soft and contemplative as they reached the lobby. “I’m glad we came,” she said, her words carrying a sense of relief and solace. “It felt good to see Mom a little more at ease.”

(Y/n) nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting a mixture of sadness and hope. She managed a faint, reassuring smile. “Me too. It’s a start, at least.”

They embraced once more, the hug a silent exchange of comfort and shared grief, before parting ways. Fuyumi headed towards their family home, the rhythmic crunch of leaves underfoot marking her departure. (Y/n) began her walk home, the autumn air crisp and invigorating, carrying with it the scent of fallen leaves and the subtle promise of change.

As she meandered down the quiet, dimly lit streets, her mind meandered through the day’s fleeting moments of connection with her mother. Each step felt like a movement through a fragile tapestry of emotions, woven with threads of hope and melancholy. The autumn breeze whispered through the trees, echoing the complex blend of uplift and unease that lingered in her heart.

ost in thought, she was suddenly jolted from her reverie by a rough hand gripping her shoulder. Before she could react, she was forcefully shoved against the wall of a narrow alleyway, the harsh impact knocking the breath from her lungs. Her heart raced as she looked up, her turquoise eyes meeting the cold, calculating gaze of a masked figure.

“Give me your bag,” the masked villain growled, his voice muffled and menacing. The glint of a weapon—perhaps a knife—caught the dim streetlight, adding a tangible edge to his threat.

Instinctively, (Y/n)’s hands moved to protect her belongings, but she remained calm, her mind racing even as her body was pushed to the brink of fear. She could feel the weight of the villain’s threat, but she was also acutely aware of the city’s quiet hum just beyond the alley—a reminder that help could be near if she could buy time.

“Alright, alright,” (Y/n) said, her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart. “Just—let me get it for you.”

With careful movements, she reached for her bag, her fingers brushing against the strap as she slowly unfastened it. She tried to keep her movements deliberate and non-threatening, hoping to avoid any sudden actions that might escalate the situation.

The villain’s eyes were locked on her, his grip on her shoulder firm and unyielding. “Hurry up. I don’t have all night.”

As (Y/n) fumbled with the strap of her bag, her mind raced, each heartbeat echoing with fear and the desperate hope for a way out. The villain's menacing presence loomed over her, the blade’s glint a harsh reminder of the danger she faced. Her breathing was shallow, and despite her attempts to remain composed, her hands trembled.

The alleyway felt increasingly claustrophobic, the walls closing in as the villain's impatient growl echoed in the narrow space. Every second felt like an eternity, her anxiety mounting with each passing moment.

Suddenly, a red flash streaked past her peripheral vision. Before she could fully comprehend what was happening, a powerful force surged forward, shoving the villain away from her with an explosive impact. The masked figure was flung against the opposite wall, his weapon clattering to the ground.

Instinctively, (Y/n) ducked, her heart pounding as she turned her gaze toward the source of the intervention. As the dust settled, she saw a striking figure standing between her and the disoriented villain. Crimson wings, like fiery plumes of a phoenix, flared out dramatically behind him, their brilliance casting a warm, protective light. The man’s blonde hair, tousled and wind-tousled, glowed under the streetlights, making him unmistakably recognizable.

It was the No. 2 hero, Hawks.

Masterlist

[newtscamandersbf]

hot take ? unpopular opinion ? idk but anyways i dont agree that endeavors redemption arc shouldnt have happened. that doesnt mean im an endeavor apologist, i hate that bitch; but i think it shows a contrast w other mha abusers. for example overhaul never did apologize to eri, never saw what he did as wrong, and basically stopped thinking about her. on the other hand endeavor finally realised that he was a horrible person and tried to change, apologizing to his family, and accepting all of his familys reactions. mha doesnt even portray a single one of the todorokis reactions as ‘wrong’. horikoshi isnt forcing anyone to forgive endeavor; we’re shown that shouto isnt forgiving nor forgetting but is willing to move forward and aknowledges that hes trying to change, rei aknowledges that hes making an effort to be better but still doesnt want to see him again, fuyumi forgives him and tries to move on due to her desire for a happy family, natsuo is unwilling to accept his apology or the fact that hes trying to change and wants to cut contact w him. but none of those reactions are portrayed as ‘the wrong one’ because ultimately you dont have to forgive your abuser, and its perfectly fine not to. endeavor himself accepts the fact that natsuo wants to cut contact with him, even if he realised he loved and cared about him. me personally ? ive never been abused, and i dont have a right to tell others whether or not they should forgive endeavor. i aknowledge his redemption and still hate him. aknowledging his redemption doesnt mean forgiving him.

[class1akids]

Did you watch the new live action of ATLA ? Recently I've seen the live action and animated version of ATLA and all i can see is that the parallels between Zuko and shoto are insane?!

No, I haven't watched it. I've spent a few years in the ATLA fandom, I love the show, but I have been pretty disappointed in LoK and the comics, so I have no desire to see any further spin-offs and re-thinking and just want to keep the original in my head in its near-perfection.

I think I've written also about Zuko and Shouto - this question comes up a lot. There are a some parallels between them, but I think they come from common literary and manga tropes:

Abusive family

Toxic father / daddy issues

Absent mother / mother issues

Facial scar as symbol of pain endured

Healing arc

Found family

Ruined sibling relationship with a sibling possessing blue fire due to shared abuse / toxic family

Fire powers that unlock with healing

Unconventional use of fire power that symbolizes healing (Zuko's lightning redirect and Shouto's Phosphor)

But if you look beyond these tropes, I think the psychology between them is very different:

Zuko is a "black sheep" / failure character, desperate for his father's approval. In his attempt to earn that approval, he does pretty bad things, betrays his uncle and needs to go on a redemption arc to learn to let go of the need for his blood father's approval and embrace the father who truly raised him - Iroh.

Shouto by contrast is a "golden child" / "masterpiece" character (more like Azula in that sense), but he's never after his father's approval. His arc is about gaining autonomy and sense of self, healing, forgiving and reconnecting with his family. And his ultimate challenge is not to let go of his need for his family, but to learn to accept that in order to find himself, Shouto needs to learn to see and accept his father as a flawed human being as well.

Just think of their endgames. Zuko's endgame is to reject his father and walk away. Shouto's endgame is keep fighting for his family despite every let-down and rejection.

So I think despite the many similarities, both arcs deep down are quite different and unique. In ATLA Zuko and Azula both develop and change, Ozai stays as a static, one-dimensional evil character. In the Todoroki family, everyone is more dynamic. Shouto, Touya and Endeavor all change, but so does Rei, Fuyumi and Natsuo. While Zuko has Iroh’s unconditional love to counterbalance Ozai, Shouto has no “Iroh” character to guide him. Even if you could argue that All Might’s inspiration is the counterbalance to Endeavor’s abuse, All Might is quite a distant figure for Shouto. So his journey in that way is more about understanding and assimilating the human characteristics of both Endeavor and All Might into his own end goal of who he wants to be.

The ATLA Fire family is about Zuko's coming to terms that he'll never get the family he wanted. The Todoroki family is about coming together and reconnecting a fractured family.

[haine-kleine]

a slightly surrealistic take on why the Dabi is never around:

when Touya was still in coma, AFO didn't let go of his plan to prepare the boy as his future vessel. the state of his body allowed AFO to take more risks with him, and thus he gave Touya an experimental quirk he engineered, one that could give him Yoichi back. the quirk can take the user to the alternate universe where his greatest desire is fulfilled, while still keeping them tethered to their original reality, allowing to freely move between the worlds if they so desire.

when Touya woke up from the coma and ran back home, the shock of what he saw there had activated his new quirk. he is thirteen again. he is also the only son of Todoroki Enji, Fuyumi is now his only sibling. his hair is red again, like it used to be, like it always was supposed to be, and he doesn't burn anymore, the grotesque skin grafts only an uncomfortable memory. his father looks at him with such pride it takes Touya's breath away. he got so used to having to beg for sideway glances from his dad, like the very sight of Touya makes him ashamed. this new world is a dream come true, everything he ever wanted put directly into his palms. his body does not betray him, his father entrusted his dream to him, his heir, his only heir, his mother and sister supporting him instead of turning away from him.

and then he remembers Shouto. little Shouto, who was born perfect, born to replace him. he remembers attacking him when he was just a baby. he was so little then, and he vividly recalls the burning hatred that consumed him, how much he wanted Shouto, that perfect thing, gone.

Shouto was never born in this world. as Touya thrives in this dreamlike reality, he can't help thinking about the missing parts. did his dream kill Shouto? did it kill Natsuo? is he worse than the father he left behind in that horrible world, the father that made children like objects to be used? the more he thinks about it, the less enjoyable this new world becomes to him. his mother, who looks at him and at Enji with such open fondness, his sister who is his best friend now, who proudly tells her classmates about her brother, who is training to become the greatest hero, his father who doesn't even seem like the same man he had been chasing for nine years. his own selfish happiness. is all of that worth the price two little boys paid for it? is he truly so self centered to think his happiness is more important than the lives of his own brothers? had his father not stopped him, would he have actually killed little Shouto?

as he starts dwelling on this more and more, missing his little brothers, fixating on the guilt of erasing them from existence by proxy of being born the 'right way', he activates the quirk again. in the new universe he is 10 years old, and as soon as he sees Natsuo he bursts into tears. his little brother worriedly asks what father did this time, and Touya can't form any reply, pulling Natsuo in a tight hug. this is the first time Natsuo's brother has hugged him. later, when Touya calms down enough to stop squeezing Natsuo like he's going to disappear, the boys leave their shared room. what Touya sees next doesn't make any sense.

'Touya-nii, Natsu-nii, let's play!' a tiny boy with a gap toothed smile and rosy cheeks holds out a ball to them.

Shouto had never been allowed to step foot in the hall on this side of the building. father never allowed them to even look at each other directly. Touya's breath catches in his throat, his heart starting to beat rapidly. he hears the loud footsteps that are about to be followed by screaming, why did Shouto think this was a good idea to come here-

then the real Enji passes them by, reminding Shouto about the afternoon training, ruffling Touya's hair on his way to leave.

if the previous world was a dream come true, this one is extremely confusing.

eventually he learns that the difference here is that he had never attacked Shouto, and his father had never isolated his youngest brother from the rest of the siblings. all four of the Todoroki children are allowed to spend time together. remembering the heavy weight Natsuo and Shouto's absence put on his chest in the previous world, he decides to let go. it was him who wanted all of his siblings, and he already got to live his dream once. his vulnerability to fire is back, and the memory of burning alive is suddenly a vivid nightmare keeping him up at night. he looks at his mother's calm, relaxed face, as she watches a movie with the children. he thinks back to the stitched up, unfamiliar face he saw looking back at him in the hospital mirror. he thinks back to Fuyumi-chan's words, from when they were little. she doesn't want to see him hurt. he doesn't want to be hurt either. is it really so bad to let go? he glances at his family. Shouto is snoring his icy snot bubble with his head on their mother's knees. Natsuo is gripping Touya's shirt tightly, pushing his head into his shoulder, pretending he is not crying about the sentimental scene that is happening on the screen. Fuyumi is invested in the movie, but after hearing Touya's snort glances at their younger brothers and exchanges a grin with him. the calmness he feels here is like a warm blanket, the comfort such a faraway memory he had almost forgotten this feeling. would it really be so bad to let go and enjoy it?...

he wakes up once again. he is not at home and he is alone this time. 'wake up, sleepyhead', ghosts of children whisper to him, and the dread starts to sink in. he is back in his original world, the garish scars on his whole body as stark as he remembers them. he learns that two years have passed since he woke up from coma. he is no longer a middle schooler, Todoroki Enji's heir training to become the number one hero, nor a ten years old boy surrounded by an accepting and caring family. he is an adult, covered in self inflicted scars, with nowhere to go to. he feels like a child who had his candy taken away. it's so unfair! were those worlds just dreams his sick mind hallucinated while he was in another coma, and who on earth had been taking care of him this time?

this sends him back to the first alternate universe. he is back to being Enji's pride, separated from his brothers.

this goes on for a long time, as he clumsily learns to control this world travelling quirk. he spends as much time as possible in the two worlds, using them to escape the progressively glaring reality of the time slipping through his fingers, becoming a disfigured homeless adult having to fend for himself. on a particularly nasty night, his hunger and loneliness equally suffocating, he decides to come back home. if being away from his family is the main problem, then he can simply come back, can't he? maybe, if he stayed when he came back for the first time, if he didn't start crying and ran away from the sight of his father training his youngest brother in his place, if he revealed himself, they would have accepted him like they did in the second world. he misses the comforting chill of his mother's touch. he misses his father, the memories of the monster who beat his mother and his youngest son drifting away in the mess of the conflicting memories he made as a world traveler. he looks down at his reflection in the muddy puddle, the street lights painting his rough features red. he takes a deep breath, and heads in the direction of the Todoroki mansion.

he doesn't even get past the gate before Endeavor's sidekick almost arrests him. Enji joins in to the chase, and the cold derisive detachment his father looks at him makes him stumble. he escapes on pure adrenaline, overexerting his quirk and nearly burning both of his arms off. this is how he meets Giran. this is when he decides to stay in this world permanently. even if it feels like being thrown out from heaven straight to hell, he can't indulge in this escapism anymore, wasting the years he has left in the real world. he has to steel himself and make do with the life he has in this world, separated from his family. Todoroki Touya was left behind in the past, in other worlds, a faraway concept buried by time and space and impossibility of his existence, stretched thin between three different lives.

***

Dabi is a very weird individual. it’s a commonly accepted opinion in the League of Villains, a group consisting exclusively of weird individuals.

Shigaraki won’t tell this to anyone, but the initial reason he let Dabi join, let him stay, despite his rudeness and open lack of interest in his, his leader's case, is because the man is a mystery, one even his Sensei is fascinated with. when he disappears without any warning for the first time, Shigaraki uses all of his resources to try and track Dabi, to punish him for his betrayal. a week goes by, and he turns to Sensei with a humble request for help. his Sensei doesn't even appear angry with his failure, informs him that Dabi is going to be impossible to find until he allows himself to be. Shigaraki knows that Dabi has a fire quirk, how is this possible? does he have an ally who will hide him with their quirk? but even Giran didn’t know where the man disappeared to, didn’t crack even when Shigaraki made Twice, the sweet unassuming man he knew Giran trusted, contact him asking for help with locating Dabi. he ponders this, scratching viciously at his neck (Kurogiri pulls his hands away), and the look on his Sensei’s face, an almost gleeful smile, the proud tone of his voice, make him stop.

does Dabi actually have two quirks?..

***

despite the common notion, Toga is not actually the harebrained cutesy teenage girl that she pretends to be. what she is, is a good judge of character, and a very good actor. it takes one to know one, and she cracks Dabi’s mask before she even learns the man’s name. everything about him feels artificial. she knows Shigaraki and Spinner are pissed at him for not being serious about the League of Villains. she feels Dabi isn’t serious about anything. the more time she spends around him, the more she feels like she is interacting with a very bad actor who landed a role he never wanted to participate in. when he is not active on villain duty, it’s like he isn’t sure what his script should be, hiding behind his phone most of the time.

 still, when Shigaraki throws his second tantrum because Dabi came back after two weeks of no contact, she finds the sulking man hiding from everyone in the garage.

“you should learn to be a better actor, if you want to pull your thing off”, she tells him in a serious voice. it’s their first serious interaction, and Toga feels like a predator stalking her prey. no matter how much Dabi shows off his scars and throws insults around, he can’t hide the fast pumping of his heart. she allows herself to look at him, really look at him at him, and she finds that his glittery blue eyes don’t belong on his face. his eyes are too honest, too open, raw emotion presented like an open book. after a long moment of silent eye contact, he slumps in defeat, hugging his knees and making such forlorn sight that Toga almost feels bad for him.

“i will, just don't tell on me”.

no one is sure how old Dabi actually is, his voice so raspy it could belong to a serial smoker or to an old man, his face too damaged by the scars to make any age lines identifiable, but sometimes the things he says, the tone of his voice, make Toga think of a boy, rather than a man.

[villainsandvictimsalliance]

Idk what to tell to the people who still don't get that although is okay to teach kids the rules to live in a society (like respect others or don't kill or whatever), Kotaro Shimura, Enji Todoroki and Toga's parents didn't care as much for society rules as they care for the rules that made them feel okay at home.

Which in the end caused the main villain trio to reject authority and society and turn into violence, since they did try to use words as kids and were royally ignored.

Tenko, Touya and Toga tried very hard to be good kids, but in their parents conception it was not enough 'cause they couldn't repress some of their needs: they wanted their dads and moms to accept them as they were, to accept who they wanted to be, to accept the way they expressed love and accept the way they interacted with their surroundings.

In Tenko's case, Kotaro was unable to accept his kid desire to become a hero. His could be the worst case in bnha, given the violence of his tragedy and how misfortune (maybe even something else) played on it ending so badly. Tomura himself said that house rejected his very identity, even tho Hana tried to support him in secret and Nao stood up for him, little too late. For what we saw of him as a child, his only defect as a son was wanting to be a pro-hero, dream that got him beaten up for, grounded in a rather cruelly manner. Kotaro's trauma turned him into an irrational man, his hatred for heroes was both the build up and the catalysis of the tragedy that ended the lives of the people he loved the most.

Tenko didn't become a villain because he was an evil kid. He became a villain because AFO wanting it so and because Kotaro inculcated in him such extreme hatred.

In Touya's case, it's a bit more complicated. I don't believe Enji's obsession was completely evil in nature, although his actions were truly selfish and it became later abusive, when his desperation blinded him to the point he was unable to understand how bad he has turned out to be. Like in Tenko's case, the mother is at fault only in yhe sense that their lack of intervention allowed the situation to escalate 'til they couldn't prevent it anymore. Touya's case differentiates itself in the fact that he was older than Tenko, his behavior declining over the years into extreme violence, unlike the way Tenko exploded in murder glee when Kotaro hit him one last time.

The lack of proper attention from both Enji and Rei allowed Touya's behavior to become a tragedy. Their negligence, Enji's focus on his work and Shouto (as a project not a son) and Rei's role of a caretaker yet not a mother, combined with the incapacity of Natsuo and Fuyumi to understand what Touya was going through (really, only Shouto could, but at that point Touya hated him too much and Shouto was way too young)... Well, it didn't end well for a kid that didn't want help anymore but attention on his own terms. He was tired of adapting, the same way Tenko rebelled in his insistence of acting the hero way.

The same house rule ( YOU CANNOT BE A HERO ) sent them both to AFO's hands, one way or another. They were kids who couldn't act the way their dads wanted, so fuck them I guess.

That part is compatible to Toga's case. Kinda.

Toga's parents are by far the most twisted of the bunch, which is a lot to say considering that Kotaro hit his kids and Enji even hit his wife. Yet, without having to touch a single hair of their little girl, they inflicted damage so deep she preferred to become a runaway criminal than to stay at home one more day.

At least Kotaro and Enji valued at some level Tenko and Touya's existence. Toga's parents didn't care about her at all. She was as good as a broken doll, an imperfect piece of their furniture, something they wish wasn't related to them at all. Enji was at least worry about his son and he loved him at some degree, the same way Kotaro worry over Tenko was born out of his fear of losing his family. Nothing of it excuses what they do and let it be said that Enji and Kotaro did saw Touya and Tenko as monsters at some point (when Touya tried to kill Shouto and on his Dabi era, when Tenko killed his family and turned to Kotaro). Yet it doesn't compare to the way Toga's parents immediately erased her from their lives, even denying any affiliation. They sent her to that therapy like a car needing to be repaired. She was a sign of status, she was an object that they failed to produce, she was an aberration and a freak, she deserved to be put down.

From the three od them, Toga was the one who struggled the most to fit in socially, not to society standards tho. To her parents.

If all these parents had cared for their kids more than they cared for his own stupid rules maybe things would have been different. But that's the core of their problems, they don't need the whole world to accept them, they need to treat the internalized traumas their parents left them with, the self-hatred and the feeling of inadequacy and the need for acceptance (of themselves) and recognition.

That's why Toga, Izuku and Shouto are the key for their recovery. Acting as mirrors, they are meant to provide the closure the villain trio desperately need. It's not just a sibling or a nemesis bond, but a recognition of the self through the other situation.

If they can accept themselves and correct their ways and get free from their parents absurd rules, if they can move past the child need for their parents validation, maybe they can finally exist in a less painful way.

[siflshonen]

Todoroki: The Mountain, the Hawk, and the Haunted House Part 2

Link to the Todoroki family presentation: Part 1 | Part 2

Link to the Bakugo presentation 2.0: Part 1 | Part 2 | 1.0: Part 1 | Part 2

Link to the Kirishima presentation 1.0 | 2.0

Link to the Shoto Todoroki presentation

Link to the Deku presentation

Link to the Uraraka-Bakugo-Toga presentation

Link to the Shigaraki-All for One presentation

Link to the Spinner-Shigaraki-Bakugo-Deku presentation

Link to the BNHA presentations masterpost

Welcome to the second half of a comically long post.

Beautiful Winter and the Daughter’s Role

Fuyumi’s name means beautiful winter. She takes after her mother and, like Rei, is expected to be a Yamato Nadeshiko and uphold the family into which she marries. While the academic paper I linked earlier doesn’t say or imply this, it’s likely that a primary reason the firstborn daughter in many of the researched families moved away from the family is because she moved into her husband’s household to support his parents and her and her husband’s kids!

But Fuyumi makes a sacrifice in the absence of their mother and the first son - she chooses to stay in her father’s house to take care of him and take on the role of the mother figure and the firstborn son’s wife. But why?

There are lots of reasons. Keeping up appearances; keeping the household together; because look where following the traditional model of marrying some dude and going to live with and support his family got her mom; because the family she craves is the broken one in front of her, not some random new one... Follow your heart and pick your favorite.

But while Shoto may be, as Rei puts it, the family’s hero, Fuyumi is Enji’s hero in terms of maintaining any semblance of a family. He even says so in his mind, though he would do better by actually telling her.

Fuyumi’s distinctly winter-like name indicates to us that Enji had no intention of making her his successor (though at the time of her birth, he also didn’t need to do so.) This is par for the course in traditional expected family roles for Japanese daughters. Fuyumi’s birth order may have been saved from one form of hell and locked her out of what is traditionally the “man’s world” within the household, but it consigned her to another hell of the “woman’s world”.

Anyway, Fuyumi is the young woman of the new generation caught between traditional expectations and the realities of the demands of the modern day. She also doesn’t have much power in the overall social or household dynamic. 

Masculine Summer and Second Son's Role

Natsuo’s name, which mean “summer” and “manly”, indicates even more obviously that Enji had hoped that Natsuo would have a fire quirk and take Toya’s place. Natsuo didn’t, though. It might be for the best.

Usually, second sons dodge the bullet of living for their parents, but they also lose out on many of the benefits and the attention that come with it. 

For a markedly dated and extreme example, this article points out that while firstborn sons were exempt from becoming kamikaze pilots because their family roles were considered too important, second sons were expendable.

Natsuo is the young man who wants nothing to do with the ugly history of the old ways but isn’t in a position to do anything about it. He, uh, also doesn’t have much power, but he also didn’t do much to wrest the power from the extant system.

What is Shoto Todoroki?

Shoto Todoroki is the “hero of his family” and poster child for balancing extremes. Examples include:

Ice and fire

Mind and body

Past and present

Hate and love

Old and new

Obligation and personal desires

Deku and Bakugo

Shoto’s balancing act is very, like, zen - and also follows the Buddhist model of pursuing a middle way. You can read an entire post about him and his middle way here!

For the purposes of this discussion, we could think of Shoto as the ideal new Japan that is at peace with its troubled history, if we like. He’s the one that’s going to lead the way for his family to a new future, though he won’t necessarily have all the power the way his father did.

Todoroki Hypocrisy

If you didn’t notice, nothing about the traditional family structure is helpful or sustainable for the Todoroki family, and so, despite appearing traditional in their publicly-presented values and background, the Todorokis don’t follow the model at all! By trying to maintain the appearances that they do, they make even bigger hypocrites of Enji, and of Rei’s extended family.

Public Scandal and Apologies

First, I think it’s important to establish that the Japanese public’s relationship with their media is vastly different than that of many western countries’ populations and their media organs. For something to make a big enough splash that people are openly mad about it, it needs to be a pretty big deal. While the Japanese constitution guarantees freedom of the press, the press often doesn’t dig too deeply into controversial topics because, as the first article details, they follow the social mores of “not rocking the boat” more closely than the press in other countries.

It’s always important to remember that public opinion and official policy do not always support the same things or work together in practice.

Enji Todoroki, or more precisely, Endeavor, is a personified stand-in for the entire Hero system after All Might’s retirement, but before that, he was still a representation of the dependable, old, native government (Enji is, you know, an emblem of the patriarchy.) So, because of that, his family situation and personal wrongdoing being made public is a big deal. Massive. Even separate from Enji’s and Rei’s involvement in Toya’s death and their screwed up family dynamics, Dabi’s conducts and murders bring shame to the whole family, context be damned. It’s bad enough that he is a member of the family that did all of those things, ‘cause, you know, one bad apple ruins the bunch, but to specifically be their first son? The one who is meant to honor the parents and follow them most closely? Christ on a cracker, did Dabi fuck the entire family over with that video! He painted them all as total shitstain fuckups who don’t follow tradition, are terrible humans to one another, can’t keep their shit together and out of the public eye (which is arguably worse than being a terrible human, socially speaking), can’t be trusted with anything, can’t possibly be allowed to keep existing for the good of society…

Well, the only thing left in Enji and the family’s social toolkit is to apologize, which is. Oof. Woof.

So, apologies on a small scale are common in Japan, and downright necessary. Here’s an article about the importance of them in business and, to some degree, in everyday life. To apologize, one always accepts fault no matter what the greater context is. One does not explain the situation, because that is seen as making excuses. (This is part of why Dabi framed his actions as something to gloat about in his video. He ain’t sorry in the way the public might want him to be, and in fact, he’s shunting the responsibility for his actions and for his very existence onto his father.) Some of the specifics of how apologies work in Japan are counterintuitive to folks from the US for a variety of reasons, but we won’t get into it now.

Of course, apologies are necessary in Japanese society when something goes wrong, but the higher the stakes are, whether social, governmental, financial, or whatever else, the more unacceptable the screw up is in the first place. While Japanese apologies usually need to deliver a single party as fully at fault (even if it is unrealistic or unjust), accepting the wrongdoing is still shameful and is, just like a US-raised, apology-averse intuition might tell you, accepting fault and putting that shame on your shoulders.

‘Course, if one has enough money, clout, and influence, there is a secret third option that allows one to dodge the shame of apologizing while not appearing weak or cowardly: lie and deny everything. Do that, and the status quo is maintained. The boat ain’t rocked and people can go about business as usual without having to bring it up again.

And Enji, with Keigo next to him as #2, represents the status quo. This is why so much of the MHA public expected them - and wanted them - to deny it all.

If Enji and Keigo had denied everything, the shock to the public would have still existed, but been vastly mitigated. In particular, if Enji had denied it, he would be turning his back on the truth and also denying any need for the public to thrust consequences besides ones meant for show onto him. If Enji denied Dabi’s story, he would be denying the wrongdoings of the entire Hero system and HSPC. When Enji chooses not to deny Dabi’s story, he takes a big step forward in dismantling the existing Hero system and its illusory perfection in the hearts and minds of the civilians.

Enji’s public statement is something meant to prod the civilians towards supporting change and tearing down the walls between Heroes, Villains, victims, and civilians. Keigo’s involvement and exposure further backs this up.

Wait. Did some of you not realize that, in this story, the public is also being brought to task for their negligence towards their fellow citizens in all of this? Ah. Well, they are. The destruction of their cities and the mass resignation of many Heroes was the first of many things to befall them, and the exposure of Enji’s deeds and family situation was the final prod in the ass to get them to re-evaluate their society and what they could do to help.

And, actually, Enji and Keigo’s super-duper downer press conference creates a nice contrast with the hopeful tone of Deku’s announcement to the civilians within UA because - oops! That’s a different section. We’ll get to that later.

Anyway. Press conference. Consequences for Enji for being the worst father ever. Right. So here’s the thing: holding the press conference does spell out a consequence for Enji specifically.

While no big, dramatic, punitive, obvious, or immediate thing comes for Enji after his statement to the public, the mark against him in the public eye is permanent, much like the scar on his face (also left by Dabi, albeit indirectly. When he did that, he curse-marked him, you know?) Shame is a punishment, especially in eastern cultures, though the consequences aren’t as overt and obvious to many westerners. I’m not trying to say that the story shouldn’t offer other consequences to Enji, but I am saying that the story has already done something - and we’ll probably learn more about what long-term effects it has on Enji as the story goes on.

But perhaps more importantly, Enji and Keigo tarnished the image of the Hero system irreparably. They humanized - perhaps even villanized - Heroes by showing them as imperfect. That Enji and Keigo would not put the public at ease and apologize with standard decorum and platitudes as they were expected to do shows their commitment to being open with the public, even if the public doesn’t want to hear it.

They’re not hiding behind saving face anymore. The Hero system from the days of All Might is dead. It was a facade, and now it is gone. Enji and Keigo’s press conference is less about the two of them groveling to the public and more about the public realizing that they have to grow up and face reality, too.

What is Hawks?

What is Hawks? Or, rather, what is Keigo Takami?

Keigo Takami is Enji Todoroki’s final and hidden child - so hidden that Enji doesn’t know he has him! But of course, Keigo is Enji’s not by blood, but by inspiration and emotion - and plain ol’ attachment issues. While he isn’t the same kind of Frankenstein’s monster as Dabi, Keigo’s weakness is still fire, he is still haunted by the decisions he made in regards to his piece o’ shit family, and he is still very concerned with being near Enji Todoroki and disguising his legal name and identity.

And, whether intentionally or unintentionally, he’s an Icarus figure. Angel/Archangel also seems to be a source of inspiration for Hawks, though the similarities besides the big wings and some thematic details like the duality in the relative “good” and “evil”  faces of both characters, and perhaps Angel and Hawks’ seemingly carefree attitudes, are few. Instead, Keigo/Hawks and Toya/Dabi make up the two halves of Angel/Archangel, especially in relation to their “creator”, Enji. Horikoshi even created a homage to it. But, uh, separate from that, I personally think Black Widow is the more relevant comic book character to bring up when talking about Hawks by himself and not in relation to the Todoroki family plot.

Unlike Dabi, Keigo wishes good things upon the Todoroki family and doesn’t have the intent to leverage those good things into greater suffering later down the road. He’s Enji’s very own anti-curse. Talk about a hamaya! Okay, well, not really, though hawks are seen as harbingers of good fortune and generosity, particularly if dreamed about on the New Year. (And we all know how Enji sees his mountains…)

While Keigo is not an arrow of light like Toya was meant to be, Keigo is still a light flying high in the sky, in a sense. Keigo’s name is startlingly straightforward. 

Kei - teach

Go - enlightenment

Taka - hawk

Mi - watch

Someone watchful like a hawk who teaches the correct path to enlightenment. On paper, this is true. Hawks is a Hero for the commission and a begrudging mentor to Tokoyami. ‘Course, when he kills Twice (Jin! Twice’s given name was Jin, which means humanity! Keigo kills his humanity in killing Jin! Keigo’s murder of Jin is actually a BIG fuckin’ deal for this story. Others, particularly Hawks fans, have broken this down very, very thoroughly), Keigo does the opposite of what his name indicates. He teaches how NOT to be enlightened, and he is blindsided and (literally!) grounded by Dabi’s reappearance and knowledge of his name. Keigo suppressed, if not outright sacrificed, his individuality, name, and basically his soul in service to the Hero System and the HSPC.

In other words, he really did become a Hero like Endeavor - one who hurts his family (and friends) to help strangers as well as an individual who does whatever he must for his job while neglecting everything else in his life. Hawks put his duty and obligation before everything else. Sucks when people take advantage of someone for their quirk, huh. Keigo certainly was too fast for his own good.

On the other hand, Hawks is truly trying to create a better world and be better. Even while he was still under the HSPC’s thumb, I always found his lack of interest in raising up “the next generation” interesting. Why? Because he says he wants to create a world where Heroes are bored and don’t have much to do - in other words, he envisions a world where none of this Hero bullshit is necessary. His interest isn’t in lifting up “the next generation”, but also supporting the older and current ones, and just plain supporting each other.

And, slowly, with himself and his own life as a starting point, he’s learning to do it. The light of hope in Keigo’s heart is inextinguishable.

Keigo Takami VS the Todoroki Children

‘Course, Hawks’ upbringing couldn’t be more different than the Todoroki childrens’. For one, he was poor as shit and his family was not as educated or well-bred, notwithstanding the criminal element. They lived on the fringes of society rather than holding storied family ties or new fame and national pride. The last thing he wanted was for his parents to pass on the family business or even, in some senses, pay attention to him (because it usually meant they criticized or abused him), and the last thing they wanted to do was pay attention to him - or even have him around.

Also, unlike with Toya, the distance between Keigo and Enji is part of what facilitates their positive relationship - growing up, Keigo didn’t have to see the ugly reality of the man, only the idealized Hero. He could grapple with the ugly reality of the man later, when he was older and could project the misdeeds and mistreatment of his own biological father upon Enji, but with a completely different intent than Toya has for the man.

But this is important to consider in the context of other characters besides Dabi. It’s not completely false to say that, in many ways, Keigo’s relationships with his own father and how it relates to Endeavor mirrors Deku’s with Bakugo and how it relates to All Might for many of these same reasons.

Keigo’s Surrogate Fantasy

Enji’s change of priority and intent towards his own family - and even Rei’s newfound resolve to take a stand - is a surrogate fantasy for Keigo, who wanted to reconcile with his own family while acknowledging the terrible things they have done to one another. Oh, and how wonderful Keigo must think it is that Shoto is the Hero of his family despite being so young. How wild it is to realize that every time Shoto thought to himself that Keigo is so cool and so impressive, Keigo likely started thinking the same thing.

Too bad Dabi is Shoto’s brother instead and Keigo isn’t actually part of the family at all. And too bad that Keigo never realized that Dabi, Enji’s other son, was watching him very intently while Hawks, like everyone else, never did the same in return. Oh, well!

Keigo is still 20 pounds of family issues in a five-pound bag. To Hawks, the guilt he feels over abandoning his own family is a major motivating factor in his unspoken loyalty to Enji and the Todorokis. He’s not going to abandon them the same way he abandoned his own family.

Keigo apologizing to the public for Jin’s murder and explaining the details of his past alongside Enji is significant for several reasons. One, he is choosing to face his own past and, to some extent, his own desires in helping Enji and the Todorokis. Two, he is making his filial apology in what would, in other circumstances, be Dabi’s place. Keigo is a son figure who did horrible things and is owning up to them, and he’s doing it alongside a father apologizing for the awful shit he did that drove his son to murder and misdeeds in the first place.

And again on Jin: considering how spectacularly Jin denied Keigo’s offer to help if only he left the League of Villains, it’s not terribly surprising that Keigo would be hesitant to directly tell Enji and the Todoroki family about his feelings towards them. Jeanist probably knows, but I figure that dude’s collar is so high because it’s full of secrets.

Other Notes About Keigo’s Background

Keigo’ family is from Fukuoka, which is on Kyushu, the southernmost of the large Japanese islands. The people here are definitely not all “Yamato” Japanese, and these regions, like all the various regions of Japan, have their own regional identity and pride. Fatgum is from nearby Osaka, as @transhawks​ points out in this cute post about the potential of Fatgum x Hawks (also? PLEASE STAN FATGUM!) The most interesting and relevant part of that linked meta is the discussion about burakumin (I don’t recommend using this term outside of a western, english-speaking discussion), Japan’s caste system in the modern world, and how it may relate to Keigo or Fatgum. (By the way, this information is also relevant for any discussions of the mutant quirk cast members’ stories.)

A comparatively large population of folks associated with castes in these areas is one of the contributing factors for the notable yakuza presence there - ‘cause the yakuza’d hire and accept these folks when nobody else would.

Is Keigo meant to be burakumin? I dunno. I can’t say a lot about this in detail since it isn’t my place to do so nor my area of expertise. But the implication that Keigo’s self-labeling of his “dirty” wings may be a reference to his background through blood and ethnicity is worth pondering, especially in contrast to the prestigious family history present in the Todorokis.

Also, I’m not really sure if this is important, either, but hawks and falcons are associated with power in much of east Asia. In fact, falconry has an interesting history in Japan as an outdated status symbol, so Keigo’s presence around Enji could lend itself to some interesting interpretations…

So that’s the skinny on the Todoroki family and Keigo Takami. But there’s a rather formidable set of parallels I’d like to point out.

Parallel Narratives

Endeavor and All Might Revisited

First, I want to remind everyone of the very intentional comparisons constantly drawn between Enji and Toshi- er, All Might. Basically, both stories go something like this. 

A man preoccupied with how they might suffer the same fate as his predecessors (Enji’s rejection of his father’s fate versus Toshinori’s assumption that he will die like Nana Shimura) sacrificed everything for the sake of appearing a perfect Hero. First, he is marked - and doomed - by the one who hates and wants him most (Dabi scars Enji’s face before ultimately “killing” Endeavor after his reveal versus All for One ripping out many of Toshinori’s organs and eventually “killing” All Might by forcing him into retirement), but emerges victorious. Eventually, his deepest secret, which will ruin him if it becomes public, is broadcast on live television (Dabi’s broadcast versus All Might’s televised last stand in Kamino). He must apologize to the people and continue to live on despite this (Enji and Keigo’s press conference versus All Might’s address to the public and subsequent talks with Aizawa). He must apologize to those whom he failed to see and own up to his mistakes (Enji’s apology to Natsuo and the family and his eventual confrontation with Dabi - he’s working on it - versus Toshinori’s apology to Bakugo, then Deku, and eventually Shigaraki - or so I am assuming). 

Also, they are both old men who do stupid old man shit like use bad texting etiquette or need help using computers. But that doesn’t do much for us, narratively speaking. But Enji’s fight with One for All and how it resembles All Might’s in Kamino should bring their similarities to a very fine point.

Still, I’m not done pointing out parallels.

My Hero: Endeavor and Deku

We know All Might has compared Katsuki Bakugo and Enji in terms of their changes of heart. We also know that Bakugo and Enji are ambitious and, at least initially, selfish. Despite Bakugo’s heavily western (US) presentation and values and Enji’s obvious Japanese background, they are very similar.

Enji envied All Might as a superhero and as an “American”, and he was very nasty about it. As I’ve said, Bakugo’s expression of inadequacy more closely resembles Enji’s on the surface, but there’s always been something underneath it that Enji’s envy for All Might did not have. (It’s love and admiration for All Might and Deku, in case you have to ask. Meanwhile, Toya’s feelings for his father unfurled in the opposite direction. At first, he felt love and admiration for his father that soured into Dabi’s grudge. But that isn’t important right now.)

Enji and Bakugo are similar, sure, but Bakugo and Deku are also very similar, so the next natural step is to realize that Deku and Enji are also similar and have similar journeys.

Much like the “traditional Japanese” Enji envies the “exceptional westerner” All Might, Deku also envies the “westernized winner” Bakugo, though Deku’s never been as openly nasty about it as Enji and instead directs his punishing inadequacy inwards. But Deku and Enji both create suffering from their envy and desires. 

@pikahlua​ recently pointed out to me that Deku and Enji’s stories are, in many cases, not just thematically similar, but frame-by-frame identical. They noticed the hospital parallel I’m about to draw first.

When Deku cries in the hospital after Bakugo’s kidnapping out of frustration at his own failure, key members of the class and Kirishima, with an outstretched hand, convince him to stop blubbering and go get Bakugo back together. Then, when Deku’s moment comes to take Bakugo’s hand, he decides against being the one to reach out.

While not evident in that moment, Bakugo has been wanting to take Deku’s hand for some time, and Deku VS Kacchan 2 makes this quietly obvious even as it causes Bakugo inner torment. Look at Bakugo’s blocking. I’m serious. Look at it. And if that wasn’t enough, Bakugo is still, in these at-current 362+ manga chapters, reaching for Deku and acting in his stead to the point that it’s destroying him.

When class 1-A brings Deku back to UA, the public is incensed over it. While Uraraka is the one to make an address to them from the rooftop (and Iida assesses that the class should watch in silent support as Deku and the folks inside UA reconcile), the civilians still turn to Deku and ask what he intends to do. His answer is to “bring it all back”. In other words, he’s resolved to keep fighting for everyone's sake - including the villains’, though he doesn’t say this directly.

When Enji cries in the hospital after Dabi’s reveal out of sadness, frustration, and shame at his own failure, his family and Shoto, with an outstretched hand, convince him to stop blubbering and go stop Toya - together. Later, when Enji’s moment to reach out to his son should have happened, Shoto is the one to catch him and try to soothe his heart instead.

Despite Dabi’s presentation and hostility, he has been wanting to see his father for some time. Everything about Dabi has been broadcasting this desire, sometimes literally, even if it is spiteful and twisted. And if that weren’t enough, Dabi is currently flying to his father in a ball of self-destructive flame to reach him even if it turns him into nothing but ashes.

When Enji must face the public to apologize, Keigo is there to support him. Enji must speak on his own behalf with primarily silent support, but when the press and people demand to know what he is going to do, his answer is, “Just watch me.” In other words, he’s resolved to keep fighting for everyone’s sake (his family included), just like Deku has done.

What, did you think Enji being an asshole, apologizing for it, and insisting the public “just watch [him]” was only a comparison to Bakugo’s apology and interior instruction during the Joint Training Arc that Deku “just watch [him]?” Or that Toya/Dabi’s pleading for his father to “Look at [him]”?

Deku needs encouragement to not “run away” from his heroic goal of saving Tenko when he finds Bakugo left as a “present” with a hole in his chest. Enji needs similar encouragement to not run away from the fight when he sees his charbroiled son keep destroying himself in his attempts to reach his father.

Deku may be all the good and noble things about an innocent, optimistic, and young “Hero of Japan” while Enji is tarnished from his misdeeds as an old “Hero of Japan”, but the biggest difference between them is context and lived experience. It’s the same stuff in different packaging.

In the Buddhist model, the ego - or sometimes I might use the words “consciousness” or “self” - is not something fixed, or at least, it shouldn’t be as it is not what should rule an individual, and it is determined just as much by the circumstances of one’s birth and surroundings. 

Put another way, “nurture” matters just as much as, and sometimes more than, “nature”. 

So, do you think you’re a “good” person? Let’s see what you do in a situation. Let’s see what you do when you are put in many, many situations that range from bad to worse, one after another. You think you are a “bad” person? Let’s put you in a better situation. Let’s keep putting you in better situations with emotional and physical support and see what happens.

And then, let’s ask someone else with a totally different background and point of view what they think of you.

All it takes for someone to become a villain in MHA’s Japan is, as the 24th volume title says, one bad day to serve as the capstone to a billion different little circumstances and choices that are not always within someone’s control. Likewise, all it takes for someone to fall from the public’s grace and have the world turn against them is the same thing.

People are individuals, it’s true - but they are also more than individuals. They are everything around them that shapes them, and also none of those things at all. Every day, we get to choose how to navigate that paradox. So do the Todorokis.

Thanks for reading.

[bibibbon]

I feel like Fuyumi should've saved Natuso, instead of Endeavor and the trio. But, like, in the worst way possible.

Ending and Natuso are actually in a even fight. Endeavor, the trio, and Fuyumi arrived from the commotion. Natuso gets distracted, Ending lands a heavy hit, and Fuyumi panics. Fuyumi goes for a "full power, no control" move (basically Snowgrave) and Ending is frozen in a block of ice with lethal hypothermia-level temperatures.

The Todoroki children have minimal screentime so I wanted to establish a few things. First, their quirk capabilities, so it seems like less of an as**pull later. Second, the more unhealthy side of Fuyumi wanting to keep her family together and safe.

And third, if possible, more of an explanation regarding civilian quirk control. Like, more Endeavor going "we need to keep Ending alive because my daughter will be arrested for murder by a non-hero," less "we need to keep Ending alive because I'm such a good guy and it's technically ok if we fail."

Actually I really like this idea and rewrite.

The todoroki kids specifically natosu and fuyumi lack screentime therefore they lack development but they, unlike rei still feel like actual characters with real flaws and realistic reactions.

The series clearly establishes both natosu and fuyumi's feelings and dynamic to their dysfunctional family.

Natosu is the rightfully angry one who tries to continually distance himself from enji and rightfully both despise him and blames him for everything like touya's death (which happend due to his neglect)

Fuyumi is the one who wants to ignore all of it so she just tries to pretend that it's not true and that she does have a happy perfect family. Fuyumi tries to live up to the image that the public expects of a hero family but she also deeply cares for her family and a part of her deeply longs to make those thoughts a reality.

It is exactly that reason that we see fuyumi trying her best to connect everyone and keep a brilliant image when todoroki invites izuku and bakugo over.

However, reality hits fuyumi hard and there are a lot of things she feels when she isn't pretending to uphold the image of a perfect daughter of a perfect family. One of the feelings being an attachment and close relationship with natsou. heck if we are being realistic I think that their relationship could be explored in an unhealthy way for example the series could show us that fuyumi and natsou are so close that it may effect their relationship with other people and its something that they slowly learn to develop out of as they trust and meet more people.

Every time we see natsou on screen fuyumi will be mentioned or be present and the same applies for fuyumi. The narrative introduces them as an inspereable pair even from early on in childhood where we see fuyumi covering natsou's ears to both of then visiting their mother and more.

Having fuyumi be the one to save natsou establish and help emphasise a lot of thing within the narrative like:

Fuyumi's strong desire to keep her family together and uphold the image of a perfect family

The ice powers that the himura's have

More world building within quirk use and heroes wanting to keep their reputation spotless at all cost

This also helps shine the dangers of being a heroes child or family member and how it can put them in danger

Also if the aftermath of the fuyumi vs ending fight is dealt correctly it can show the more corruption side of heroes specifically enji

[irontragedyreview]

Thoughts about mha new chapter

I'm going to be honest, I forgot that there was a new chapter and when I remembered I looked for the 425 leaks and I got confused, apart from this I don't have much to say.

I think in previous posts I said that the chapter was going to be about the todoroki and a closure for their plot. Liking or disliking this chapter will depend on each person, but the truth is that it was an ending and honestly there are 4 chapters left to close everything. The next chapters will surely be about Spinner, Toga and with some luck Horikoshi's mediocrity will allow Izuku to have a minimum reflection on Tomura but who knows.

However, speaking of the leaks of this chapter in general, for me the most important thing would be:

1. Touya is possibly going to die at some point.

2. Natsu is going to cut off contact with Endeavor permanently. Here I’m going to clarify something, the truth is that I liked the dynamics of Todoroki children, many praised Natsu for maintaining resentment and hatred towards Endeavor while Fuyumi received a lot of hate because she wanted a united family, Shoto was an intermediate point, he resents his father but still maintains some type of relationship without cutting off contact completely. I think that the reactions of the three children regarding their family story are a representation of reality, there are people like Natsu who will cut off all contact with the abuser regardless of whether they seek redemption, Fuyumi wanted to keep the family together (we saw it with the scenes of them trying to eat together). Although we don’t know if this attitude changed, Fuyumi possibly still maintains contact with Endeavor at the end, Shoto is more difficult to say, he may follows Natsu's path or  consider maintaining contact like Fuyumi but more distant and limited way. The positive thing is that Shoto has emotional support in his UA classmates.

3. Tied to point 1, Endeavor seems determined not only to assume all responsibilities but to give Touya all his attention while he’s still alive, from the few posts I saw I know that there is some criticism that Endeavor still plays such a leading role here, and how Shoto and Touya should have more argumentative importance for their relationship. However, Endeavor is the unifying factor between them, beyond Shoto's desires to save Touya because they’re family, much of Touya's attention to Shoto It focuses on how Shoto was the perfect child that Endeavor always looked for, the one who was born to replace him because he was damaged merchandise, without Endeavor their relationship wouldn’t have the weight it has because Touya wouldn’t have been interested in Shoto as he was.

4. Nagant is fine, my heart takes a little happiness at this and although her being in prison is not my particular taste, I like that it’s of her own will and because she still doesn’t trust about them becoming her into a weapon again, I like that she is well.

5. Gentle and La Brava are good too.

6. Hawks and his new position (I'm not very interested in his character)

7. Spinner appears and possibly the next chapter will focus on him. Here we will see what will happen to him, so far Horikoshi seems to be getting rid of the villains in one way or another, Tomura dead (for now if nothing changes), Touya on his way to death, Spinner could have serious neurological damage from the quirks given by AFO. If I'm honest, the one who is in the best condition is Toga, although she gave her blood to Ochako, she didn’t have deep wounds and with some luck beyond the blood loss given to Ochako, she’s the one who has the best chance of recovering.

But back to Spinner, someone enters to his hospital room, the question would be who the person is? We have options and they are all possible, Toga, Izuku (who has a message) or Shoji. I’m more inclined to these last two than Toga because Midoriya still has to talk about Tomura and Shoji would be the closure of the heteromorphic discrimination plot. On this point I'm going to say that the plot was very sloppy, the confrontation between Spinner and Shoji will be seen in retrospect and I'm sorry but Shoji's words to Spinner at that moment were shit, I hope at least if Shoji and Spinner talk again the advice isn’t to be good because then they will stop discriminating against you.

Well, it seems that I actually had quite a bit to say, but I think I touched on all the points that I consider important, I don't consider the chapter to be either bad or good, it’s just a closing of the plot.

[rutilefearless]

Do you think I'm fragile?

Mha x introvert!todoroki!reader

Summary: the fifth child of endeavor is a very quite and reserved person, due to her being hidden and silenced society considered her as weak, vulnerable and fragile. Her silence makes her secrets and plans so hidden well, so...do you think she's fragile?

PS: this just a headcannon of you being on Dabis side.

You we're the youngest member of the family, very small and frail and to add the now weighing disappointment you are a female

There's nothing wrong with being a female other than you being so...I donno silent?

You weren't like this at all, you were the most liveliest member and you were like any other naive toddlers

The family thought of you as a flower, a beautiful flower growing on a hard pavement of stones given by your bitxhy of a father

The moment you zipped your mouth for eternity was when your quirk started manifesting and when Touya died.

You and the others were eating dinner in silence, no one spoked and no one talked, what was to talk about anyway aside from quirks and not so motivating words from your father. The others felt worried not hearing you speak for the first time, you were always the first one to start a conversation no matter the situation. It worried them to the point that Fuyumi asked you if you were okay.

"Me?... I'm okay just tired." You smiled tiredly ignoring that tingling and burning sensation on your left shoulders.

"Are you sure? Do you want to go to bed?" Fuyumi asks caressing your small head.

"No...I have to finish eating, I don't want to disappoint you and your cooking." You giggled.

You continued eating your food as Natsuo could only stare at you in worry. Dinner was going well until you dropped your chopsticks and purple flame erupted from your behind completely burning the fabric covering it and lighting up the room.

"Shit." Enji mutters.

He immediately went to your side as well as Fuyumi as she uses her ice quirk to prevent the fire from burning you and the house, the fire went out but the skin on your back was filled with scratches, burns, and rashes. You we're in state in shock, you couldn't even feel the tear that fell from your eyes.

"[name]?..." Shoto asks in the same state as you.

"Wha-what was that?" Your small voice trembles in fear as you tried to look at your father.

"Father, is she gonna be okay?" Natsou asks, Touya couldn't speak at the moment and could only stare at you wide eyed.

"It's her quirk." He says coldly.

"You're not going to use her, right?" Your mother asks as her eyes shakily narrowed towards Enji.

"Did you not see the amount of power and heat it held? Of course I will." Enji says firmly.

"Did you not see the bruises and burns she got? Enji you can't do this she's only 4!" Your mother argues back.

"Shut it woman you're not one to decide who's strong and who's not."

Their voices went louder and louder but we're muffled by the hands for your sister covering your ears while Touya covers your eyes.

"It's gonna be okay, I'll get you out of here." He whispers, he always says this...but did it ever happen?

Years has passed and Touya didn't made it through, he wasn't around anymore, and you don't feel comfortable like before. You weren't as noisy as before, you haven't talked about your day in the daycare nor did you made friends, teachers asked your mother if things were doing well at home since you were to silent to even tell the other kids to move over. She lied, of course she will how is she going to explain that the pro hero Endeavor just made their home a kingdom of hell by torturing his families lives one by one.

Things were getting worse, your family isn't even a family but just mere dolls in a doll house dressing up for a show for the sake of your father's selfish desires and a rather heavy reputation. Because of your situation at home being under the shadows of your brothers and sisters, you zipped your mouth and took the key limiting it's use.

After Shoto went to UA you were around 13 years old and introverted outside your home or inside, your alone and sometimes seen in the house lake just sitting or studying

Sadly because of your quirk and body not working together and a huge possibility of you turning to ash with your quirk you were now one of the dumps a.k.a the disappoinments.

Because of this he forgot about your existence and focused on the eldest success but you were successful yourself you were just insecure because he never looked at you the way he looked at them or maybe he never looked at you

Your academic life slowly became normal ever since your father wanted to make things better, but you had enough and stayed silent either way.

There were times you spoke like when your siblings tells you something important and you'd reply words like "is that so? Ok." "Got it." "Ok." "I understood."

You're so silent not even your father could sense your presence in his office asking for permission to leave late at night because there wasn't any soba for shoto ( in which he agreed for the sake of his diet)

Not even his fans and paparazzi could take random photos of you and selling it online would work because of an anonymous user deleting those post or website, no one knows who did it, not even you

It eventually became an issue in social media and even got to the news saying "Endeavors daughters stolen photos has been going missing online." ...yea

The news got to Enji and he could agree he does not know who it was since he didn't hire anyone to do so, he doesn't know this happened because does he give a damn? Obviously no

Because of this scandal you actually met your savior don't worry bb

His name is Dabi and you know this man got something in him, like how half of his body is literally coated in burnt rotted skins that you have no idea if it even is his

Seeing his appearance and how he admitted in stalking you in a not creepy way got you like "yep this man is definitely a villain"

You we're so lonely that you befriended this dangerous being and called him as the only person to even know your ability

You aren't weak, ever since the news found out about your quirk they called you as one

Since you can't use your own quirk on your skin you used the most smallest yet used part of your body, like your fingers or foot or even form a wing with it

Your quirk is strong because one touch of it could melt metal, so ever since you met Dabi you've been training on top of a rooftop of a random building

But...a certain someone saw you with Dabi, his red feathers sways with the wind as his dirty blonde hair joins along

"Well would you look at That, I've got tea for today."

U want p.2 ... I'll try ✌️🤡

[usagirln12003]

Touya Todoroki: Hogwarts AU

Touya Todoroki is a Pureblood wizard (Lycanthrope) that was born on the 18th of January 1961 and started attending Hogwarts on the 1st of September 1972, being sorted into Slytherin house.

He has a Blackthorn wand with a Dragon Heartstring Core.

His Patronus is a Hebridean Black.

His favorite subject was Defense Against the Dark Arts and his least favorite was Ancient Runes.

Touya was very energetic and boisterous as a child, and he wanted to learn as much as he could from his father. Because his father, Enji, had emphasized that he would be the one to surpass Toshinori Yagi since childhood, Touya became obsessed with fulfilling that dream, becoming just as stubborn as his father to become the Head of the Auror's Department. This drive to surpass Yagi was so great that, despite Enji telling him to abandon this goal and focus on something else, Touya refused and continued training, burning himself in the process. Touya described his goal as a fire that his father lit within him that would not go out and that he could not bring himself to ignore, highlighting how his childhood dream became an unhealthy obsession. Rei, however, construed that Touya simply yearned for his father's acknowledgment and proof that he wasn't a failure, something that became more apparent following the birth of Shoto, who had inherited the magic and strength that Touya lacked.

Touya's obsession would go on to make him further unstable, becoming indifferent to the damage his training was doing to his own body and also shrugged off concerns from his sister and mother, stating that his younger siblings lived in a different world than him. At one point, Touya even lashed out and attacked his mother and an infant Shoto with his accidental magic when his father refused to look at him. Being aware of the arranged marriage of his parents, Touya grew bitter towards his mother when she tried to dissuade him from training, claiming that she held just as much responsibility as Enji for why he was born, words that shook Rei to her core. Despite this, he wasn't completely callous towards his family as he had a reasonably good relationship with Fuyumi and Natsuo while growing up, and he also expressed regret for trying to attack Shoto while admitting that he was wrong.

After feeling abandoned by Enji, who became focused on Touya's youngest brother Shoto, Touya went through an existential crisis and would cry out of frustration every night. Nevertheless, he continued to train despite the harm he would suffer, hoping to surpass Shoto and gain his father's approval. Touya even cried out of pure happiness when he saw his magic evolve and become stronger. However, when his father didn't meet with him to see this discovery, Touya broke down emotionally and lost track of time, which led to him getting attacked by a werewolf and was nearly mauled to death. Even after surviving and escaping from the werewolf pack that kidnapped him 3 years later, however, Touya still went home and wanted to see his father again, yet also desired to make amends with his family for attacking Shoto and his mistreatment of them. After seeing that nothing had changed and that Enji was still obsessed with training Shoto to become his successor, Touya psychologically broke, taking this action that all he ever was to his father was a failed and discarded attempt at reaching his selfish ambitions. This mental breakdown caused Touya to completely abandon his old self and become Dabi, a murderous and pyromaniacal werewolf obsessed with ruining his father's reputation and paying him back for all the suffering he went through.

After renaming himself Dabi, he became a stoic, aloof, confident, and focused individual who rarely shows emotion. While rather crude and violent, he's cautious, choosing to retreat when Rumi Usagiyama arrived to aid Enji and made sure not to divulge too much information to Keigo Takami about missions because of the infancy of their relationship. Overall, Dabi is a highly enigmatic individual who trusts no one, preferring to do things alone and in his way. He also gives off the impression of knowing more about certain people than he lets on.

Despite his usual expressionless behavior, Dabi finds joy in establishing himself as a dark wizard fighting what he believes to be corrupted ministry workers, an ideology proposed by his apparent inspiration, Stain. Dabi is dedicated to Stain's mission and desires to destroy the society where Purebloods supreme, sharing his belief that one person with the necessary conviction can do so. He is shown to share Stain's sentiment that aurors are hypocritical and unworthy of their title, but unlike Stain, he does not seem to seek a society with better aurors, believing that true kindness don't exist. Despite his devotion to the Ministry Killer's creed, Dabi does many things that Stain would not, such as attacking innocent bystanders and helping the League get revenge against Kai Chisaki, while also being motivated by his vengeance against Enji. In the end, Dabi only uses Stain's ideals to cover his motives and justify his crimes against the wizarding society.

Dabi takes pleasure in taunting heroic figures, students, and aurors alike, sadistically enjoying the pain he inflicts on others, including those he murders. Sometimes, Dabi engages in psychological warfare to unnerve whoever his opposition is while also allowing himself to cool down from his magic's effects. Very pragmatic in battle, he is rather savvy about how aurors operate and will exploit their natural tendency to rescue others. He is not afraid of causing collateral destruction, rarely holding back, even if it puts his allies at risk.

Dabi is intolerant of most people and can be very derisive, rude, and condescending to everyone with whom he interacts. He insulted Tomura Shigaraki immediately after meeting him and constantly does the same to his allies and enemies but doesn't always do it with the intention of being rude. While the League would go on to develop a strong sense of camaraderie, Dabi has remained distant from them for the most part. He has admitted that he doesn't care for Tomura or the rest of the League and that the value he puts on them comes mostly from their ability to bring his ambitions into reality. This selfish way of thinking establishes Dabi as an extreme sociopath.

However, Dabi appears to at least be capable of feeling some remorse. While he had no problem killing a respected auror, the latter's words appeared to have resonated with him, implying that Dabi has sympathy for those that have lost family due to dark wizards, as well as the loved ones of those who he has killed. Yet, this remorse does not extend to his family, as Dabi has frequently contemplated their deaths for revenge against Enji. He also appears to have specific standards, as upon seeing Fumikage Tokoyami arrive to save Keigo, he was surprised and disgusted by how the ministry were more than willing to bring Hogwarts students into battle, although he could've just been looking down on them for having to rely on wizards in training.

Dabi even displayed some semblance of kindness when he burned down Himiko Toga's family home while she was feeling distraught over it, though he claims he only did it to twist the knife for the ministry. Despite admitting that he held no care for the other League members, he did encourage Jin Bubaigawara to do his best for the League during the war, even hi-fiving him as he ran out to join the battle and took the time to encourage Himiko that they should continue fighting for their cause. This personality aspect shows that Dabi cares enough about his allies to support their morale when needed, even if only for pragmatic and self-serving purposes.

Following the reveal of his identity and his article in the Daily Prophet revealing his childhood, Dabi unveils his far more sadistic and unhinged side, expressing a maddened and gleeful expression upon confronting his father and youngest brother. With his sadism and vengeance fully renewed, Dabi thoroughly relishes any pain he can cause Enji, shown when he attacked Nejire with his long nails and gloated that Enji's flames had burned another child's future. The article in the Daily Prophet has also shown his steadfast belief about the people working for the ministry: they use their good actions to hide and justify all their sins and use the public's admiration of them to keep it that way. He ridicules his father for believing that he could atone for his past abuse of his family and his attempts to change into a better person and does the same when revealing Keigo's father to be a serial criminal who his father had sent to Azkaban. Although he had previously discarded his birth name, he resumes using it after his duel with his father.

Dabi is also aware of his madness and doesn't seem to be against the idea of suicide if it can kill his father or hurt him more, as shown when Dabi attempts to immolate both himself and Shoto in the War. He also expresses how he can't feel anything anymore, not even towards his family, further cementing Dabi's apathy and showing how far he has fallen. He later confirms to Shoto that he's fully intending to go down while taking out Enji, knowing that his vengeance would lead him to death from the start and that killing his father while destroying everything he holds dear will be how he leaves his mark on the world. Upon confronting his father again in the final battle of the Fourth Wizarding War, Dabi intends to use his magic to self-destruct and destroy everything around him. As a result of this, Dabi's loss of sanity causes him to regress back to his childhood thoughts before he starts to explode, as seen by him telling his father to look at him like he did as a child, having completely lost himself to his desire for vengeance.

[bugsinthebayou]

HAWKS CENTERED AU YOU SAY??? Tell Me More

- 🦸‍♂️

OKAY SO !! it has the same childhood friends concept as a good chunk of dabihawks fics/aus have, but ive done a little more with it. i feel like the other todoroki siblings are way underutilized in these fics so! ive made them more important!

here's what ive got written down about it already !

unfortunately in this ^ didnt quite convey certain things as well as i wanted so i'll expand upon them here

the thing about hawks (as an adult) is that his anger and decision to commit villainous acts is that it all stems from his kindness and deep-seated desire to help people. canon hawks is willing to use himself as a weapon so others dont have to do the same/can remain safe, so here he isnt doing everything to be evil, or because he hates hero society for no reason. he witnessed an injustice that was never resolved, and he cant just let it go.

another thing is that i didnt write enough about hawks' views on touya. as a kid, touya's his best friend. after his death, hawks doesn't really get over it. by the time he's an adult, touya is less of a person (a bit ironic with how obsessed hawks is with not letting him be forgotten/replaced) and is more of a,, symbol? over the years hawks has mentally placed him on a pedestal, a constant reminder of whats wrong with the hero world and what hawks needs to do to fix it. this absolutely effects his and dabi's relationship. i dont have a lot on it just yet and its not super fleshed out, but hawks' perception of touya warps his perception of dabi and he really struggles with both connecting them and separating them. dabi himself is of the mindset of "touya is dead, i am dabi" and doesnt know how to feel about hawks views on touya.

and finally, as a kid hawks is pretty close with the todoroki family (minus enji), but he hasn't seen rei since she was hospitalized, despite her telling shouto she wants to see him (even moreso after dabi reveals his identity). and also, fuyumi and natsuo dont really view keigo as a brother, he's a really close friend to them. its just shouto who thinks of keigo as a brother. he was really young when touya died and keigo started doing as much as he could to take care of the todoroki siblings. keigo acts like an older brother, but he doesnt like to think of it that way. shouto 🤝 tokoyami. being hawks' little brother

aand thats all ive got so far !! sorry for the massive infodump hehe. ive been chewing on this au for a while now :3

[morgana0203]

We're all crying

a/n: hello dears! this is something i've been wanting to write for a long time now but never felt the courage to post. this piece is a little bit of a summary of the novel i have been writing. to make it the most enjoyable, i decided to write this as a reader-insert. i also want to apologize if the characters seem ooc. i haven't role-played for years and i have no confidence in my writing.

i hope you do enjoy this piece however. i really don't feel confident, please forgive me if it sucks. ;_; xo

pairing(s): touya todoroki x sibling!reader, implied!hawks x reader t/w: implied!incest, child abuse, neglect, death(?)

There was fire. A vortex of flames amidst the destruction that consumed anything and everything. 

In the heat haze, your gaze was directed ahead, lost. Even you couldn’t grasp the reality of the situation. Your mother held you in her arms as you stared with lifeless eyes. The lights in them have faded, and everything around you was muffled. You couldn’t understand a thing that the others were yelling about. They all sounded like crying. Yelling. A clash of red and blue hues, dancing beautifully before you. Without hearing anything, there was no urge to feel nervous. You lacked the ability to feel anything.

“You are so cool brother Touya!”

“Right? Wait until dad sees me!” Is that… brother Touya? 

“[Y/N] still doesn’t have one– mom why is she like that?”

“She is alright, Fuyumi. Some need longer than others,”

"Mom!! She’s biting me!!  Touya, do something!!”

Your mother would smile at your middle siblings, never trying to make you feel less than, or to make you feel abnormal.

Whenever your siblings would ask why you were “so weird”, Touya would always glare at them as if trying to hold something back. Sometimes, he would even start fights with them over you. Because you had difficulties developing any talent, you were an easy target for your father’s ignorance and hurtful remarks. Remarks, telling you were a waste, a useless spare. Perhaps that was the reason why Touya took it upon himself to protect you. You were second in line of your siblings, and thus being closer to your brother than the rest. But you would always stay the remaining. The unusable. And that role was just fine for you, next to Touya. Perhaps his love for you came from a place of you being “dependent” on him. When it was just the two of you, he shone the brightest in comparison to you.  And that gave him the feeling of responsibility, which fed his ego at exceeding. 

While you fuelled his desire in becoming stronger, you also brought him closer to his destruction. He claimed it was for the both of you, since he had to make up for your lack thereof, but you were just a child. 

You two were inseparable from the start. If Touya was to be eradicated, so would you. If Touya was banished, you would follow. And if your father were to forsake you, so would Touya do the same to your entire family. If it was for him, he would have always wanted to be by your side.

“Big brother…”

Your voice sounded quiet, hoarse. Your skin was burning. The many cuts and scratches mixed with the sweat that formed from the heat and the dirt, through which you were shoved in the quarrel. Weak both physically and mentally, you helplessly lay in the arms of your mother who was silently crying at whatever was unfolding in front of you all. Since your vision was but a blur, you could not grasp the seriousness of it.

 

You barely knew these people that surrounded you, and you felt like they had dragged you into their problems. 

You grew up with your father, and had moved to Hosu city two years ago where you helped him run a family bistro. During the first months of being opened, Shouto and his class paid a visit to the establishment and has been a regular ever since. It was due to his recent visits and getting close to you that your father felt urged to somehow make you reconsider your friendship with the boy. Denying that there was anything wrong with you two getting along, a fight was inevitable. 

The friction began to spread once it had planted its roots and what has felt like a family only had the bitter aftertaste of estrangement. Suddenly things made sense. The stiff way he would talk to you, or how he at times seemed “inattentive” was all due to his own shortcomings when it came to raising a child. Nevertheless he was always supportive, but never forceful. Eventually the time had come for you and him to go separate ways, leaving the bistro to you, and moving back to the countryside. You left things off on neutral terms, as strangers. 

While Shouto knew of the death of his oldest brother, it was a scrap of photograph that he found in the living room peeking out from a cupboard, that made him ask about his oldest sister. At first he thought it was Fuyumi before her hair had gotten those red highlights, but…  when Shouto mentioned the picture to his siblings, Natsuo couldn’t contain his impulse.

“You honestly think that one of them burned to death while the other one who he wanted gone just conveniently drowned?”

It wasn’t a topic anyone would discuss at all. Shouto did recall indeed. When he took a look into what once was Touya’s room, he saw the picture. 

It was of you and Touya. 

Always. 

“They are like twins…” 

Natsuo remarked in annoyance as he watched Touya hype you up. You two looked really alike. The eyes, the hair… and you both wanted to work hard to earn acknowledgement. As a child you always showed a fascination for theater. Singing, dancing and acting. It was one of the closest things to what you’d excel at. 

Enji would never look at you though. He would never come to any of your plays in kindergarten or elementary school. Perhaps it was easier for you to deal with the hatred of your father because of Touya, but it was never easy. If your tears flowed because of him, Touya would always get angry and try to persuade him by winning his acknowledgment. If he had shown your father that he was his best creation, maybe he would accept you as well, but…

A harsh grunt left Endeavor as his heel dug into the earth beneath him. He had to steady himself against Touya’s attacks without hurting his son. Worried was his expression as he looked back at you for a moment. Your muscles tensed as you wanted to lean away from your mother, but you had already lost quite an amount of blood. It must have been internal bleeding. 

Your vision cleared just enough to recognise his blue eyes and crimson hair. Just like that time he first came into the bistro.

“Welcome,” you sheepishly grinned at the man. Your smile was exactly like Touya’s. He tried to hide his gaze with a baseball hat, but given how he was over towering you, you could easily see up from below. He seemed very nervous, apologetic and awkward all at the same time. 

He tried to make small talk about the shop, the frequency of customers and… you. For some reason even you had become nervous, not being able to know why. 

The first time he ever visited you, he came with an envelope. He wouldn’t even know how to talk to you. As if because of a premonition however, you dreaded opening the letter for weeks. When the time did come, you found a handy sum of money. 

Enji had been bringing it each month to your guardian, and every time he welcomed a torrent of insults as a result. You were living by yourself now, so the recipient had become you. Even though you were very grateful and embarrassed to receive the financial aid, you never asked who he was and he never brought it up. He would always look ashamed and timid when staring down at you, and you tried your best to not stammer too much in order to make the situation easier for him. 

Shouto had tried to get you to meet Rei at the hospital, but you ended up turning back right at the door every single time telling him that you just couldn’t do it. You felt no need to get to know her and your other siblings. The thought of all the awkwardness put you off, and you struggled with it for a long time. Eventually you did come around (the awkwardness in-tact) and convinced yourself to at least put some effort into seeing your mother. From what Rei told Shouto, you had died along with Touya. She would cry relentlessly, expressing her guilt of not being able to do more for you. Although she was already in the hospital by that time, she thought she had betrayed you and Touya for not doing more.

Even though you “drowned”, there was never a body seen. 

To have the world know of a child of his to be Quirkless was a taint on his image he could never remove. It was unimaginable. He despised you. You were another obstacle in his goal to becoming the Number One. 

The opportunity came as a godsend when you fell from Sekoto Peak. 

To finally rid himself of this stain. 

When you came to at the hospital, you saw Enji standing at the edge of your bed, a doctor next to him. “You don’t recognize her, sir? You brought her here from… ‘Sekoto Peak’?”

“Yes.”

“You found her after the forest fire, surely there is a conjunction. I need to let the authorities know.”

“I only ever had a son. And he died in the fire.”

Enji replied, leaving there no room for discussion with the doctor. Since by that time he had some influence, it would be no difficulty at making arrangements to keep quiet over this. 

You could barely move due to the head trauma you have sustained, but hearing the death of your brother, your “twin”, you felt an immense weight crush you. There was nothing you could say to the harsh truth that came from your father’s mouth. When the doctor asked you to confirm if you knew Enji, all you could do was shake your head. Shock, disbelief and denial was written on your face. You could only look at your father, horrified.

You always knew. You never had amnesia. 

You just pretended

not to know

always looking

away

Rei handed you over to Fuyumi and Natsuo, reaching out to your brother in order to desperately cool him down. Her Ice Quirk was useless, no matter how she tried. All of them were calling out to Touya. Shouto. Dad. Mom. Fuyumi. Natsuo. Nothing could reach Touya.

You have given up on this family since Sekoto Peak. You failed to be able to establish a connection to them. You weren’t interested. You felt nothing for them. Or perhaps, that was just your stubbornness, your way of avoiding to deal with all the emotional effort you’d need to put in, if you were to become a part of the family again.

It was easier not to deal with things, than try to fight the inevitable. 

But they were still trying to save Touya. 

It was Touya.

If not being able to do it for Shouto’s sake… then you might become able to want to contribute in building the family up again for Touya.

But would he even hear your voice if you’d call out to him? Would it even make a difference…? After all, he was your most treasured—

“We’re going to stop Touya together.” The moment your mother declared it in your father’s hospital room, you looked at her in shock. You stood a few feet away from your family, but the drift felt bigger than ever. The only way to end something like this was through death. Touya would either be imprisoned or would die trying to destroy your father. Anyone knew this, however you couldn’t. You just couldn’t.

“I’m not going. You’ll kill him..."

You sounded upset, rightfully so. You didn’t know what it implied to “stop Touya”, but all the flags pointed into one direction, and if you were to lose him for sure this time, horrible as it sounds, your life would become meaningless just like after Sekoto Peak.

“[Y/N]—”

“Don’t call me that,” you reacted violently at your birth name when your mother tried to calm you. Your tone was low and definitely off-putting, but never actively aggressive.

You realized that the wounds still ran deep, and you couldn’t yet forgive any of them. When Natsuo tried to intervene, you laid him flat with words.

“Don’t try to act like we’re family. None of you ever did anything for him. You made him become like this, and now you want to kill him? You all are insane.”

“You aren’t listening, we never said that was our only option [Y/N]!”

Natsuo yelled back, making you clench your jaw and watch him with wide eyes. You were furious and hesitant if you should slap him across the face.  He didn’t know of it, but you heard Touya cry many nights to Natsuo and equally you also didn't know of how many times Natsuo fought for Touya's memory during your time away. None of you knew how the other felt about anything, and this divide came naturally from being separated.

Even if you were children, the childhood you all had to endure would have shown you to behave differently and try to support each other though, that is what you believed. That was the judgement you held over your two middle siblings. It was a very one-sided way of seeing everything, and you only realized this once you had calmed down.

“I’m not going...”

You spoke with a trembling voice and turned your gaze away from them, walking out of the room. Keigo tried to reach his hand out to you, but to no avail. He rushed after you, hastily tapping away on his device.

‘[Y/N]... I know you are angry. But it is now the most important to stay calm. If things work out, you all can smile next spring.’

Coming to a halt with tears in your eyes, you turned just a little to look back at him with a heartbroken expression.

‘It must be hell for you. But you need to stand up to him. If anyone, it should be you and your family to be with him.’

And even though the truth hurt, you could not stop from crying in Keigo’s arms. He enveloped you, a small, weak girl, denying the fact that there was no other way.

“Touya-nii, please!! Don’t take them away!! I don’t want to lose anyone else!”

Fuyumi and Natsuo both yelled at Touya, who had been long gone. He kept telling Enji to look at him. And now everyone was.

“Are you sure about this?” Keigo asked one last time before departing. You nodded your head with a confident air. Your expression left no room for doubt. You were going to your brother. “There is something I need to do.” He smiled at you with soft eyes and gently ruffled your hair. You looked at him a bit shy, but soon smiled at him. “Don’t forget that we’re going to the cinema over the weekend," Keigo joked with a wink for a small moment before fixing his gaze. He straightened himself and looked deep into your eyes.

"Come back safely. You're very dear to me." His voice whispered as his hand gently, just barely touched the frame of your face. Your face grew hot and you felt dizzy at the affection he showed you. It was like none other you have ever witnessed. Your eyes closed briefly, taking in everything for one last time. When you opened your eyes, you smiled endearingly for him, wishing for the same. He seemed relieved to you, but dread was written all over him in reality. With a heavy heart, he placed his lips onto your forehead and waved you goodbye before setting off for his own mission. You watched him with the same smile before also taking your step to catch up to Shouto and Enji.

To think that you were hopeful in such a situation without a good ending in sight…

“Put out… your flames… Touya!!”

The sound of your father’s voice had become clear. Your mother was crying, apologizing to him while she tried to keep cooling him off. Enji was prepared to take him high up to the skies in order to not make him kill all of you, but your mother stopped them.

She didn’t want any of you to die.

“Natsu-nii… Fu…yumi-chan…” Touya gurgled his words. It was painful seeing him in this state. He was completely burning up, as if there was nothing of him left. “Da…d… Mo… Mom…?”

He was… still there…

Your lifeless eyes regained their light, and you began to force yourself up. Fuyumi and Natsuo tried to hold you, to keep you from more harm but the fire that lit inside you was burning bright.

Even if your lives were to burn away, run until you turn to ash—

It might be your last chance.

Everyone froze when you stepped forward, as if making way for you to Touya. With your arms extended to him, his flame burned the skin of your left arm. He held onto you with his remaining arm, and while you silently cried due to the pain, what caused you to spill tears was when he called out to you.

“[Y/…N]?”

You started to cry. His pitiful form told you he would never be the same again. Perhaps this was goodbye... you didn't want to let go of him, but he wouldn't put out his flames. Your heart was broken. Losing him for good would kill you. You came here prepared for that, and yet... you couldn't stop being incredibly sad. He never once cried in front of you. He held it in for you. You apologized to him in your heart for not being able to do the same for him. Even now, you were crying.

“Yes… I came to get you, Touya-nii… let’s go home. Everyone is waiting for you... I’ll be with you… Touya…” “Don’t… cry…”

Hearing him speak to you like he always did when you were sad, you broke out in tears. You gave him a heartfelt nod, tears spilling from your eyes. You stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, before the flames engulfed you both, turning the blue into white.

In this white world where time has stopped, you awoke, a warm breeze blowing past you. The wind fluttered your hair against your cheeks. Your eyes softly gazed ahead, seeing Touya and your family. He was so happy. He finally was acknowledged by everyone. Everyone was looking at him. His endurance has paid off. Oh how happy you were for him... standing here, next to him, felt like all the bad had disappeared. He was grinning at your father, his eyes closed in content.

His eyes opened and he turned to look to you, his grin wide as always.  You grinned back just the same way. His hand brushed against yours, his fingers tracing your palm until he intertwined with yours. Touya held your hand, a soft blush on his cheeks while he kept smiling bashfully at you. 

The two of you smiled at each other until everything turned white. Slowly but surely "I like you a lot, [Y/N]." "I like you too, Touya-nii!" you two are happy someplace else

[maoam]

What do you think of Shouto/the whole Todoroki family? Like their resolution and stuff

It's better than what I expected lol. I think Endeavor becoming crippled and having to retire from being a hero is a solid conclusion to his character, considering he fucked everything up because of his desire to become the top hero in the first place.

I genuinely thought when Endeavor protected Natsuo in that one scene, that the latter would eventually come around. But in the end he told his father he doesn't want him to be a part of his life with his girlfriend. That was... nice. Because usually everyone is expected to come around.

I don't like that Rei is still with Endeavor/Enji. But oh well. I also don't like Fuyumi has the role of the "peacemaker", mostly because she's the only daughter and it feels sexist/stereotypical that of course the girl is the passive/nice one. If this role was given to one of the boys it would bother me less. Because it definitely is one type of coping mechanism due to trauma.

The family's confrontation with Toya/Dabi was pretty good. I liked Shoto's part with Toya the best. I think it was sweet. I would have preferred if Dabi stayed alive (in better condition) for longer. They could have still visited him in prison.

Basically I would summarize "I feel iffy about some things, but it was better than what I expected, and my expectations were low".