They had expected going back to school to be tough but neither of them would've anticipated that even walking to class would prove a challenge. He and Kacchan stuck together thanks to their class schedule being the same but it was proving hard to ignore the stares and whispers as they passed. Hitoshi had gotten used to dark looks being directed at him in the halls of UA, but this was far worse and it was clearly getting to Kacchan.

Their very noticeable scars were visible for all to see thanks to the style of the uniforms not quite covering them fully, with the cuts on their arms peeking out from three-quarter sleeves, and Hitoshi's milky left eye with the accompanying deep red scar completely on show.

And it wasn't just the other kids at the school; it was their own class too.

The rest of 1-A had barely spoken to them since they'd started back at UA with the exception of Zuku, Todoroki, Kirishima, and Kaminari, everyone else seeming to want nothing to do with them. Hitoshi couldn't say he wasn't hurt by it and he knew that deep down Kacchan was upset about it too. Maybe calling them friends was a stretch as he'd only talked to some of them a few times, but he would still consider their class unit as that. They got along with each, they'd been through a bunch of stuff together, and they supported each other, so when did that change? And that only led Hitoshi to believe that it was something they'd done instead.

Growling quietly Hitoshi nudged Kacchan, successfully making him turn to look. He began to sign.

'FUCK THEM'

A genuine smile came to his face as he laughed.

'FUCK THEM' He agreed.


"Toshi, could you bring your laundry down please?" Hizashi shouted up the stairs.

"Okay!"

"And check the pockets; we don't want another pink scarf disaster."

Hitoshi smirked.

Picking up his discarded gym uniform he began checking it for trash. As he delved his hand into his pocket he found that it wasn't as empty as he was expecting. Furrowing an eyebrow he pulled out a scrunched up piece of paper.

"What the hell?"

Unfolding it revealed a phone number and the letter 'T' signed at the bottom.

"Touya…"

He must have slipped it into his pocket back at the facility.

Hitoshi sprinted off to grab his phone.


Lying in bed that night he stared at his phone waiting for a reply.

His phone pinged and Hitoshi's eyes widened as he couldn't click the screen quick enough to open the message.

'Toshi'

Hitoshi could have cried right there and then.

'Touya! Are you okay? Did they hurt you?'

'I'm okay.'

'Why don't I believe you?'

'I'll survive, honestly.'

'Is there no way you could run too?'

'No.'

'You should've been the one to get saved, not me.'

'Toshi I'd stay here forever if it meant you get to have a life out there.'

'But it's not fair, you've already done so much for me, I can't just leave you.'

'The friends of yours that came to save you that night, he looked so familiar.'

'You're gonna' have to be more specific, there were a few of them.'

A whole half hour passed before a reply finally came.

'Was one of them called Todoroki?'

'Yeah, why?'

'I knew the hair was too similar. Mom and Enji must have had another kid after I disappeared, or at least were already pregnant which means that's my little brother.'

Hitoshi's eyes widened.

'If he's your friend then you must be the same age right? That's some weird fate that I never got to see my little brother but was still given you. That makes me happy.'

'Shoto is your brother?'

'Yeah'

'Then how did you end up with the League?'

'I got sick and Enji got desperate. He took me somewhere to try and save me and it all went wrong. Having a kid with the same quirk as the number two was obviously a promising investment so they kidnapped me and brought me to the facility. You know the rest.'

'I have to tell them.'

'You can't.'

'Touya they need to know.'

"Hey."

Hitoshi practically jumped a foot off the bed as Kacchan's appearance in the room startled him.

"Woah, chill dude."

"Sorry."

He quickly clicked the phone off.

Kacchan furrowed an eyebrow, clearly knowing something was up.

"What's got you so jumpy?"

"Nothing, I'm fine, totally fine."

"You wanna' try that again maybe?"

Hitoshi sighed.

"Close the door."

Kacchan followed the instruction before walking over and taking a seat on the now constructed bed.

"You remember the guy from the facility, Touya?"

His cousin nodded before realising where the conversation was going.

"Toshi…"

"He put his phone number in my pocket back in Kamino and we've been messaging each other, well we just started today but still. Anyway, he said he saw brother there too."

That caught Kacchan's attention.

"Who?"

"Todoroki."

"You're fucking kidding me?!"

"I know!" Hitoshi agreed. "But you have to understand, he's my friend and he's done so much for me over the years, I can't just let them treat him like crap there, I need to help him."

"And how the fuck are you gonna' do that? He's at the League of Villains' facility, we only barely managed to get out of there, how could you possibly ever get him out?"

"I can't, but Endeavour could."

Kacchan scrubbed a hand down his face.

"This is a really bad idea."

"Look, Endeavour is his Dad, if I told the Todoroki's about Touya then they'd be able to help, plus it would also be official hero and police stuff."

"So let's recap, you want to go to the Todoroki's house and tell them that their son/brother who's clearly been missing for an incredibly long time is being held in the same League of Villain's facility that they just rescued us from?" He paused. "How could you possibly think this is a good idea?"

"I have to get him out of there!"

"You don't even know the Todoroki's, and you've barely talked to Icy Hot since we got back. Do you really think just gonna' round there and dropping this earthshattering revelation on them is a good idea?!"

"If it means saving Touya then yeah, I will."

"You make it sound so easy…"

Hitoshi scowled at his cousin.

"Why are you being like this?"

"Because I don't want you to get hurt!"

"I think we're a little passed that." He scoffed.

Kacchan's eyes quickly morphed to show the hurt those words inflicted. It was quickly masked as he huffed.

"Whatever; do what the fuck you want." He angrily changed into his pyjamas before climbing into the bed and throwing the covers over himself, turning on his side so that his back was to Hitoshi. "Just don't come crying to me if this all goes wrong."