Izumi was not sleeping when he snuck in this time. Instead, she was bundled up beneath a thick blanket, balancing a book in her lap while she loudly chewed on onigiri. Shouto hesitated by the window, wondering if it was worth visiting her when she was awake. Izumi, unlike most of his family members, was loud.

He slid the window open, silently climbing over the sill. Izumi looked up, eyes widening when she spotted him.

"Huh? Shouto!" Izumi tossed aside her book, stuffing the last of her rice ball in her mouth. "I missed you!"

"Sorry," said Shouto quietly. "Dad didn't le—"

"I know. It's okay!" She wiggled around in the bed, clearing some space for him to sit next to her. Shouto vaguely remembered sharing a room with her, back before they got their quirks. Izumi's had always preferred cooler temperatures, which usually led to her curling up against his right side.

"Are you feeling better?" asked Shouto looking at the thick bandages plastered on her arm. He hadn't seen her actual injury up close, but he remembers the scent of burned flesh that stuck in his nose for hours after.

"It hurts a little, but nothing too bad. The doctor told mom that my skin has a higher heat resistance than normal, probably cause of my quirk." She said the words carefully as if reciting a line she memorized. "But I didn't really get what he was talking about cause, that fire was hot."

"Oh, maybe you're not used to it because you don't really use your quirk a lot? Cause you can heat up water too, can't you?"

Izumi's eyes grew big. "You're really smart, Shouto!"

He flushed under the praise, turning his attention to the book in her lap. It was a worn volume of some ninja manga that he had seen Natsuo reading once.

"Isn't that for teenagers?"

"I'm reading it for ideas for my quirk! You know how Edgeshot is a ninja hero? I want to be like that," she made a small movement with her hand, punching the air lightly. "Wouldn't that be awesome?"

Shouto stared at her for a long moment. "But…you're so loud?"

Izumi scowled. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Ninjas are quiet," explained Shouto.

"Yeah, stupid ones. If you're the strongest ninja around then you don't need to be quiet," she smiled widely. Shouto frowned, nodding lightly at her logic. He supposed that was true.

Three days later, Izumi was finally freed from the confines of her room. Shouto often heard her loudly ordering Natsuo and Touya around in between his lessons. He was glad that she didn't seem bothered by her injury or the scar that would be left over. If anything, she seemed more exuberant than before.

Shouto leaned against the window watching his siblings play with a soccer ball. Izumi had climbed onto Natsuo's back and started pulling on his shirt to stop him from scoring a goal while Fuyumi stole the ball from under his feet. Touya chased after her, nearly tripping over his own feet. Their laughter carried up in the air, filling him with an uncomfortable feeling—he wanted to play too.

Thudding steps grew closer and Shouto turned just in time for his father to grab his arm tightly. "Don't look at them, Shouto. Your siblings belong to a different world than you."

Shouto looked back, his gaze stuck to the window, where the sound of laughter spilled in from outside.

"Just this one time, please?" he begged, tugging to try and loosen Enji's hold. "Let me play with Touya and them."

"No," said Enji firmly. "It's time to train your output capacity."

Shouto turned his gaze from the window, wishing with all his heart that for once, it wasn't him who had inherited this quirk. He wanted to be normal, wanted to eat meals with his siblings and play games with them whenever he wished.

But, Shouto didn't have the choice in whether he wanted to be a hero.

Endeavor had already decided that for him.

"Izumi!" Rei called. Izumi kicked Fuyumi, tilting her head toward the kitchen, a silent demand that she answer their mother's call. Fuyumi shook her head, flicking her ankle lightly.

"She's coming," Fuyumi shouted back. Izumi slipped off the couch, putting her slippers on and trudged toward the kitchen. Her mother stood at the counter, finely chopping some carrots. Rei smiled at her, washing her hands, and kneeling to look at the bandages on her arm carefully.

"Do you want to change them before or after dinner?" she asked, smoothing down the edge that had nearly torn during their soccer match.

"It's kinda itchy," complained Izumi.

"Hmm, maybe a bath first, then? We'll need to wrap it."

"Can't I just take them off? My arm feels like it's dying."

"Not until the doctor says too." Rei's face shifted, a deep frown pulling at her lips. Her eyes were dark and wide, stuck on Izumi's face. "I—I need to ask you something and you can't lie to me, okay Izumi?"

Izumi nodded. Usually when she was in trouble, her mother would send her to her room or take away one of her toys, but it was never something serious and Izumi was the type to take her punishments lightly. But her mother didn't look like she usually did when Izumi was in trouble, she looked frightened.

"Don't tell anyone I asked you this either. It'll be our secret." Rei smoothed down Izumi's hair, pressing a light kiss to her head. "Did Touya burn you on purpose?"

Izumi flinched back, startled by the question. She shook her head rapidly, worried that Touya was in trouble. "He didn't! I swear he didn't! We were just going to play, and I wanted to see his qui—"

Rei shushed her, pressing her finger to Izumi's lips to stop her frantic answer. "Shhhh, it's fine. I just wanted to make sure..."

"Did dad tell you to ask me that?" demanded Izumi angrily.

"What?" Rei gave her a startled stare. "No, of course not."

Izumi shook her mother's hands off, stomping out of the kitchen and back into the living room. Fuyumi glanced at her from the corner of her eye, clearing the pillow off her lap so Izumi could sprawl out over her lap. Her hand threaded in Izumi's hair, playing with the soft locks.

"What's wrong?" she whispered, increasing the volume on the T.V.

"Nothing," said Izumi sullenly. Fuyumi made a little noise beneath her breath, knowing easily that Izumi was lying, but didn't push it.

Izumi slipped out of her room that night, trudging to Fuyumi's to sleep. Though Fuyumi gave her a scolding look, she didn't protest as Izumi crawled into bed next to her, taking gentle care not to bump into her arm.

Quietly, Izumi recounted what her mother asked her in the kitchen. Fuyumi listened and then turned, staring at Izumi with a serious expression.

"When you and Shouto were little," started Fuyumi, whispering quietly. "Touya got really angry at dad and he tried to burn Shouto. That's why dad had you and Shouto separated from us for so long and then when your quirk came—well, you know what happened."

Izumi's voice came out small. "But he didn't mean to do it, right?"

"I don't think he did; Touya was just upset. Dad told him to give up being a hero and he thought it was because you and Shouto were born, but you've seen what Touya's quirk does to him."

Izumi nodded, pressing her face deeper into Fuyumi's side. Fuyumi squeezed her back tightly. Both lay still for a while, listening to the muffled sounds of an owl hooting outside. Izumi squeezed her eyes shut, trying to bury away her thoughts. She didn't understand why everything was so wrong. Endeavor wasn't the best person, but he was a hero. He was supposed to be good like All Might was. So why did he make them hurt like this? Why didn't someone see how scared her mother was around him?

Winter

"Huh?" Izumi strained her ears to pick up who was shouting. Touya, she knew had fought with their father earlier, before he snuck out to go train. But—her brow furrowed, hearing her mother's soft voice sharply reprimand her father.

Then more yelling and a shrill scream.

Izumi stood, dropping her book. She threw the door to her room open, spotting Fuyumi in the hall. Fuyumi scooped her up, holding her tight as she brought her into her room. Natsuo was already there, looking terrified as he tucked himself into a corner.

"We have to stop them!" Izumi shouted, struggling against Fuyumi's hold.

Fuyumi shook her head, not loosening her grip. "You'll get hurt!"

"But he's hurting mom," she said. Fuyumi nodded, lip quivering. Tears flowed down her cheeks as Fuyumi pulled her next to Natsuo. Izumi reached up covering her ears with her hands, hiding her face in Natsuo's sweater as they huddled against the bookcase, waiting, and waiting and waiting for the yelling to end.

"Get out, Shouto," roared Enji, the sound of a dull thud echoed. "It's none of your business!"

Izumi rushed to her feet, ignoring Fuyumi's yell, and scrambled out of the room, tripping as she ran to get to her twin. Pain blossomed across her cheekbone, but she pushed it down and stood again. Shouto lay outside the door sprawled on the ground with his cheeks tear stained. Izumi pulled him up, gripping his hand tightly.

"Go to Fuyumi," said Izumi, pointing down the hall.

"What about you?" Shouto grabbed her hand, stopping her from leaving.

"I'm going to call the police."

"They won't come," Shouto shook his head rapidly, flinching as another yell filled the air. "He's a hero."

"He's not!" she said forcefully. She pulled her hand from his. "If they hear mom yelling, they have to come. They have to."

Izumi stepped toward the living room, freezing as the door to Shouto's room opened and Enji emerged. His fiery gaze fell on her. "Where's Touya?"

Izumi shook her head, biting down on her lip. Enji shook her by the shoulders, hard enough that her bones quaked. "You're just as bad as your mother! No one in this hou—"

"He told you where he was going!" yelled Izumi, stomping her feet. Above her head, the pipes in the wall creaked angrily. "It's all your fault! Everything is your fault!"

"Get out of my sight," said Enji coldly. Shouto lunged forward, grabbing the back of her sweater, and pulled her away. The front door was thrown open. Shouto pulled her toward the window, and they watched as Enji hurried down the courtyard and through the front gates.

"Let's go to mom," he said quietly. Izumi let him guide her into his room.

Their mother was on the ground, sobbing quietly into her hands. Izumi sat down by her side, water wrapping around her hand that was cold to the touch. She pressed it against her mother's bruises, soothing some of the pain.

"Come here," said Rei quietly, pressing her hands against her eyes. She held out her to Shouto, guiding him into her lap and held him tightly. Izumi didn't know how long they sat there with her, but eventually, Rei fell into an uneasy silence.

Neither child said anything, listening intently as a new sound filtered through the house. A large, shaking boom sounded somewhere far in the distance. Izumi fell onto her butt, the water in her hand splashing to ground. She exchanged a look with Shouto.

"Mom! Mom!" Fuyumi ran into the room, her eyes wide and scared. "The mountain is on fire."

"What?" asked Rei sharply, stumbling to her feet.

Izumi went numb—hadn't Touya said he was going there? They ran to the windows, looking out into the distance where Sekoto Peak burned brightly, smoke rising high into the sky as the fire spread down the mountain.

"Bring me my phone," Rei ordered blindly. Fuyumi rushed to the living room and came back with her phone.

"Touya's there. He said he was going to wait for dad," said Izumi, pulling at her mother's shirt hysterically. Rei pulled herself out of her Izumi's hold, pressing buttons on her phone rapidly and walked down the hall.

"He's probably fine," said Natsuo, but his voice trembled at the lie.

Enji came back hours later, covered in soot, carrying an odd, echoing silence. Rei stood, walking with him into the kitchen. A whispered voice sounded, though none of them could hear what was said, a dull, anguished cry filled the air.

Izumi's head tilted in confusion. Part of her had already realized, already knew the news that her father had delivered, but her mind refused to acknowledge it.

"Where's Touya? Where is he?" cried Izumi, hysterically. Enji looked down at her as she stood in the kitchen doorway, unable to keep his gaze on her face for long.

Rei sobbed harder, clutching at her chest. Izumi persisted, "Mom? Where is he?"

"Izumi," Enji's voice rumbled, cold and dead. "He's gone. Touya's gone."

No.

Not him.

Not Touya.

The world stopped. Izumi knew in the back of her mind that her mother would not be falling apart if it was a lie. Izumi's confusion, the spreading numbness, and the way her heart seized in her chest as if it was her that had died and not Touya—none of it made sense.

It's not true, she thought. He can't be dead.

Izumi stumbled forward and then scrambled back. Dimly, she felt Natsuo's hands pulling her back, tucking her against his chest as if to hide her from the reality of Enji's words. The world around her stormed, whirling in an unending spiral, with Touya—dead Touya—at its center falling deeper and deeper with every second.

"B—b—but you're a hero," she said, through a thick trail of tears. "You're a hero! Why didn't you save him? It's your job to save people! Why not Touya?"

"Come on," urged Natsuo, glaring hatefully at Enji. Izumi shook her head, struggling against his hold as he lifted her up and pulled her away. His shoulders trembled beneath her flaying hands. Fuyumi didn't follow, her eyes blank and flat as she stared emptily at the ground.

"Izumi." Natsuo called over her screaming. His placed his hand flat against her mouth, muffling the sound. "We'll go look for him later. Just be quiet. Please, I can't—I can't."

Natsuo shook, his hand falling off her mouth and curling into a fist at his side.

"Sorry. I'm sorry," sobbed Izumi. Natsuo placed her on his bed, his shoulders hunching tightly. For a moment, he looked lost as if he had wondered into the wrong house and didn't recognize her.

"I'll go bring Shouto, okay?"

She nodded. He left the room, and she heard his footsteps falter outside the door, a choked sound like that of a wounded animal filled the air. Izumi pressed her hands against her ears, bringing her knees to her chest and rocked back and forth, trying to drown out the sound.

Natsuo returned, his eyes rimmed red, with Shouto in his arms. Shouto moved to her side immediately, tucking his hand into the crevice of her elbow. Natsuo pulled them close, resting his head atop Izumi's head, one hand absentmindedly rubbing at her back to calm her shuddering breaths, while silent tears streamed down his face.

Shouto didn't look like he fully understood what had happened, but his fingers fumbled for Izumi's hand, tightly interlacing their fingers.

After a while, once Izumi's crying had lulled her and Shouto into an uneasy sleep, Fuyumi entered the room. Natsuo rubbed at his eyes, glancing away stoically.

"It was on the news," she said softly. "Everything was on fire."

"He was probably the one who did it," bit out Natsuo. "He's not even looking for him!"

"They—Natsuo, they found his jaw." Fuyumi's face was white and pale, sickly as if the effort of standing was too much for her body to bear. Her eyes fix on Natsuo's face, gaze both warm and chilling.

Natsuo sucked in a stuttering breath. Touya had been here hours ago. He had snuck into his room last night, blubbering with tears, annoying him with the same complaints as always. Maybe if he had listened, maybe if he had the guts to stand up to their father, then Touya would still be here.

He glanced at Izumi, curled around Shouto as if she was scared, he would disappear in her sleep. Her brow twitched, still troubled despite her slumber.

"We can't tell Izumi," he said in a faint voice. "I promised her that we would look for him."

Fuyumi didn't say anything, climbing into his bed to lay next to the twins. Natsuo and her waited for the sounds coming from the living room to stop, but long into the night, they heard the whimpering sounds of their mother. Sometime past midnight, the front door opened and then slammed shut.

Todoroki Touya would not be returning home that night or any night since.