In accordance with the Hero Commission's Quirk File-70820, Dysfunctional Quirk Disorder (DQD) is a common condition in which individuals experience a negative side effect of mild to extensive quirk usage. Therefore, for the public convenience the Hero Commission has classified the different levels as follows:
Level 1: Minimum quirk drawbacks. Common in quirks involving emission or creation using the body's resources. The Hero Commission does not label this level of DQD as serious, any concerns should be consulted with your local quirk doctor.
Level 2: Mild quirk drawbacks. Common in quirks involving temperature or elemental manipulation and creation. Support items are recommended but not critical. The Hero Commission does not label this level of DQD as serious.
Level 3: Intermediate quirk drawbacks. Unusual for individuals with Level 3 DQD to pursue a career that requires regular quirk usage. The Hero Commission labels this level as serious, and support items are strongly encouraged as well as quirk therapy, which can be arranged free of cost by the Hero Commission.
Level 4: Severe quirk drawbacks. Individuals with Level 4 DQD are strongly encouraged to refrain from using their Quirk under all circumstances. Quirk usage may cause serious injuries to the individual or those around them. A Quirk doctor may prescribe everyday support items. The Hero Commission offers mandatory extensive quirk therapy to help manage the drawbacks and labels this level of DQD as life-threatening.
Level 5: Terminal. The Hero Commission offers its sincerest condolences and
individuals are encouraged to submit to Hero Commission studies to better help individuals in the future with the same rare condition.
The Hero Commission thanks you for your cooperation.
~ ~Touya woke to the warm morning rays of sun brushing against his face, nestled comfortably between the still sleeping Fuyumi and Natsuo. Touya had always been the earliest riser out of the three, he had to be if Touya wanted to catch Endeavour during his morning training before he headed to the Agency. And back in those early days, Endeavour gave Touya the rare praise for his enthusiasm, Rei sitting ready with cool drinks. Endeavour used this time to show him how to increase the heat of his flames. Proud smiles as the two of them watched orange fade into white for the first time, and when those identical grins disappeared as burns appeared on his wrists, marking the end of Touya's usefulness. As the days wore on, Rei stopped the patient waiting, leaving a pile of bandages by the door, the only sign she was ever there. Of course, even that stopped, too, as Rei refused to enter that portion of the house if Touya was training. The end came quickly after as Endeavour locked the doors to the dojo in the mornings.
After all this time, the habit stuck, even when Touya had long been deemed a failed experiment.
Quietly, Touya disentangled himself from Natsuo's heavy arm still draped over him. Pausing to pull the blanket over Fuyumi and stopping by his room for a change of clothes, Touya headed on silent footsteps to the side of the house sectioned off, reserved for the dojo as well Shouto and Endeavour's rooms. Where Touya's room used to be. No sounds escaped from behind the dojo's doors; the fight must have taken more from Endeavour than Touya thought if he wasn't training. Settling into his usual spot by the entrance, Touya drew his knees up to his chest, resting his head between them. It wouldn't be long before Endeavour dragged Shouto in to start the morning training, as much as Touya hated to watch — to see Shouto knocked down and forced back up when he would have gladly traded places— Touya learnt by observation. He could go to Sekoto Peak and practice later.
"What are you doing here?"
"I know I'm not supposed to be here. But I thought I could watch, you know, get ready for UA."
"Touya." The pity that laced Endeavour's voice when he said Touya's name, soft like he was speaking to a wounded animal. He hated it. Touya would have preferred it if Endeavour had just yelled like he used to. At least he knew the routine of dealing with his father's anger. "Would you like to set up a game of Shoji?"
Blue eyes trained themselves on Endeavour's identical ones, tampering down the tiny thrill that his dad set aside the time for him. Extending a withering olive branch. "Sure."
Endeavour made no attempt to quiet his footsteps as they made their way to his office, while Touya moved to walk beside him with silent movements. Endeavour slid the door open and baring the ten years Touya had been missing, he hadn't been allowed in this room for a while. The last time that he could remember being there was when Endeavour met with a representative of the Hero Commission to send him away for quirk therapy after a recent stay in the hospital's critical burn unit. Despite having a fire quirk, his father showed Touya that day how cold he truly was.
No words were spoken as Touya dutifully set up the Shoji board, careful to keep his eyes trained on the board. His hands moved with practiced ease and haste, none of the leisured conversation or comfortable pace like he would have if Touya had been playing with Rei. Since Touya got back to the house for the first time, the tugging ache for his mom grew inside his chest. However, Touya doubted she would want to see him, not after what Touya did.
"Boat castle strategy. I didn't know you were familiar with this move set." So the move came as a shock that Endeavour hadn't expected, good. Touya smirked as Endeavour paused before making his next move, a moment of hesitation that hadn't been present before.
"Ya, I'm full of surprises." Touya delivered the line smoothly, proud that his voice remained confident. Touya hadn't known that he knew the strategy either, but if it gave him the edge over Endeavour, he wasn't going to question it.
"That was clever" Endeavour said as he moved his own piece to counteract Touya's move. Damn, Touya stared at the board. The next move buzzed in the back of his mind like a word stuck on the tip of his tongue. "You did well in school."
Unsure of where Endeavour was going with this or what to make of his hesitant statement, Touya stayed silent. Sometimes the best move was not to make one. Especially when dealing with his father, Touya had learnt to be patient, observe, and wait for the perfect moment when Endeavour least expected it. However, he would need all the information first. He learnt that the hard way too.
"You should talk with Natsuo about universities." Touya leaned forward, a sour note of anxiety and anger building. Lurking in the dark corners of his mind, Touya pictured a spark of flames uncoiling from their sleep, threatening to spread to the heating tips of his fingers.
He tampered down on his Quirk, losing control would only prove his father right. "Why, UA will be enough? Learning heroic comes when I become a sidekick, if there are more courses that I need it be done through the Commission anyways."
"You can't hold out on the hero course being the solution to your problem. This won't change the deficiencies in your Quirk, Touya. It's not worth it." You're not worth it . The age-old argument, I guess some things never change . Touya schooled his face, a mask of blank porcelain, empty and fragile.
"Well, when I beat the number one hero, I'll tell you I told you so." He couldn't fall into Endeavour's trap. He would try to get a rise out of Touya, show that he wasn't stable enough to become a hero, too much of his mother's constitution in him.
"Touya, you going to UA will change nothing." There it was that look again. Seeing through Touya, ignoring everything about him, only to discern everything that made Touya a disappointment. Endeavour would only ever see the things that Touya couldn't live up to what Shouto had been blessed with from birth.
"Watch me." Touya lifted the corners of his mouth in a gross imitation of a smile, one that showed too many teeth and tore at his cheeks. He waited for a second longer, just to make sure that Endeavour got the message I'm here again, and this time you have to see me before Touya turned his back on his father.
Touya had never wished for pockets more than that moment, unsure of where to put his hands as he tried in vain to keep some sort of composure, pointedly ignoring Shouto's curious watching as his brother emerged from his room. In the hospital, Touya hadn't been sure what to expect, and knowing his father, it wouldn't be a welcome of open arms and apologies. The two of them barely spoke during the whole time, but it wasn't the same silence. Before, the air between them held visible disappointment and failure. Now it was the type of quiet that rang with uncertainty as neither were sure how they should approach the other. Nothing in Touya's experience could have anticipated Endeavour's tender awkwardness, and a treacherous sense of hope took root.
This morning just proved nothing had really changed. And it stung more than what he thought it would.
Touya zipped up one of the white jackets he borrowed from Shouto. Tugging the oversized neck to cover the new scars on his lower jaw. He just needed to get out of the estate and the broken expectations, if only for a minute. Responding to his mood, Touya's Quirk begged to burn something, anything including himself.
"Please not again." Pale as if she had seen a ghost, Fuyumi's hand rushed to cover her mouth at the same time her knees sank to the floor. The room's temperature dropped in a rare show of Fuyumi letting slip of her Quirk. He took a step forward towards his sister, but Fuyumi lunged towards him with surprising speed.
"Yumi" His words got muffed in the sudden frantic hug.
"Not this time Touya." Her arms pulled Touya in closer, and if he didn't have a cold-resistant body, Touya was sure he would be in the early stages of hypothermia. Gently he raised a hand to lay over Fuyumi's back, subconsciously letting the heat of his own Quirk counteract the side effects of hers. Fuyumi had always been the most expressive of the four of them. Quick to smile or cry, and whereas Touya built a mask of blank indifference, Fuyumi used her emotions as a shield for the rest of them. Right now, no tears escaped from his sister's eyes, Fuyumi's jaw visibly tight, shaking silently in her desperate grip. Touya felt like he intruded on a private moment, never mind that he had caused Fuyumi's current state of distress. But as the hug went on, it was Fuyumi he sensed slipping away, and Touya was helpless to stop it.
"Hey Fuyumi, could you please help me with something?" Shouto stood unnoticed in the hallway. His tone gave nothing away, as if he just walked in on a totally normal event, not a temperature war of emotional tension that even Shouto had to have picked up on.
Quickly pretending nothing happened, Fuyumi straightened from the hug pale but eyes dry and with a clear voice responded with a "yes of course Shouto." Just like that, she erased any trace of the moment. Seeing the walls built behind her glasses, Fuyumi turned her attention away from Touya. Her back turned to him. Touya guessed he should get used to being treated like an afterthought.
Backing out, Touya left unnoticed through the entrance, sitting on the front step to tie his shoes, the movements weighted by Furyumi's reaction. The day had just started, and Touya already wished it was over. First Endeavour and now Fuyumi. Lost in his thoughts, Touya didn't notice Natsuo closing the door behind them.
"She was the last one to speak with you, you know?" Natsuo settled next to Touya, just as close as he had at dinner. Leaving little room between them, Natsuo supported himself with his arms stretched behind him, determinedly staring up at the sky before speaking again. "I was the one who found the fire. But Fuyumi was the one who asked you not to go that day. She feels like it was her fault if she had said something that could have stopped you from going. We both wondered what we could have done differently for a long time."
"Natsu — "He wanted, needed, to tell them there really wasn't anything they could have said that would change anything. If Touya knew himself, and he liked to think that he couldn't have become someone unrecognizable in that amount of time, then even the combined effort of Natsuo and Fuyumi wasn't enough to stop Touya from going to Sekoto Peak that day.
"It's fine, Touya, really." His brother looked impossibly sad and older than his nineteen years. It was too much. Natsuo had always played the role of the carefree middle child. Hiding the effects of the weight of being a Todoroki behind a goofy smile, but now Touya could see how the years dragged on his little brother. "I'll talk to her when we get back. Shouto is probably doing a better job at cheering her up anyways."
"I'm in lockdown, remember." Touya tried to keep his voice light, but it was hard when his mouth tasted like ash.
"You literally just tried to sneak out." Natsuo's voice was a little too tight, but he was trying. "Besides, it'll only be for a little bit. No one will notice. Shouto can be very sneaky when he wants to be. And look what I got." With a flourish, Natsuo pulled the telltale golden credit card that could belong only to one person in the family.
"You didn't." Touya stared awestruck. Even in his most rebellious, he would never.
"Oh, but I did. You need a phone, no way we aren't texting daily when you're at UA." His brother shrugged, weaving the card in between his fingers as if he was making perfectly rational decisions and not committing a minor felony.
"You are a menace to society Natsu, next thing you know, there will be a criminal in the family."
Natsuo shook his head and swung a heavy arm over his shoulder, leading him towards the small shopping center near the estate. The air of sorrow still clung to the two of them, but then again, Touya didn't think that would ever truly clear away from their family. Nevertheless, Natsuo was trying, and for right now, that was enough to make Touya want to try.
Taking a breath in a final act of regaining composure, his younger brother attempted to wash away the lingering remains of vulnerability. Natsuo, eager to catch Touya up on everything he missed, added details that he kept out of dinner the night before. There seemed to be an endless number of things Natsuo wanted Touya to know, everything he missed. And although Touya would never grow tired of listening to his brother, it was just another reminder of how Touya simply wasn't there. Instead, Touya watched as Natsuo laughed freely as he recounted how he met his girlfriend and insisted that Touya would love her when he met her. The smile never leaving his face, Natsuo told him all about the crazier stories of his university life, getting to know Shouto again, and the amazement of everything Fuyumi did for the two of them growing up without Touya. They reached the mall all too soon, and for the first time, Touya wished that this wasn't his last day in the Todoroki estate. He wanted more time to learn and be with his brother to make it up to Fuyumi, and even Shouto, Touya admitted to himself grudgingly.
Touya let Natsuo pick out whatever phone he thought was best since the technology was another thing that changed drastically in his time away. Then, passing by one of the shops, a bright yellow and red display caught his eye. "Limited edition All Might merch, all proceeds go to charity." Touya flipped over the price tag. "Ouch, hey Natsu, I think we should do the store a favour and clear these out."
"You know how many coffees I can get for one of these." Natsuo nodded solemnly and grinned, scooping a handful of merchandise into their basket.
"Well, you know Endeavour, a very generous hero always willing to give his financial support." What was Endeavour going to do to kill him twice?
Touya placed four sweaters off to the side. Before Shouto got his Quirk, Touya could remember walking in on Rei holding her youngest as her oldest snuck in from a training session in Sekoto. Touya hadn't stayed long, the new burns begging to be tended to, but it was enough to see the wonder and pure amazement in Shouto's eyes as he watched, transfixed as All Might did another heroic deed.
"Bet Shouto would like one. We can all have matching sweaters."
"It's terrible. I love it." Natsuo continued to pile merchandise in front of the bewildered clerk, neither brother flinching at the grand total. "There's this great Boba place not too far from here that my girlfriend and I like to go to. It's right next to this place that donates to shelters. We can drop these off with regards from Endeavour."
Arms ladened with bags of All Might merch, Touya paused at the entrance of an alleyway. Something about it felt too familiar, a vice around his chest that simultaneously made his heartbeat too fast and his breathing too tight. Something down there made the hair rise on the back of his neck. Still, Touya laughed at something Natsuo said and moved slightly to the side as a hooded teen brushed past them. A soft buzz clouded his thoughts, a sense of purpose that Touya hadn't known consuming everything. Until, without realizing he moved to follow, there was something he needed to find in these shadows. He just didn't know what he was looking for...
"Touya, are you alright?" Natsuo's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Natsu, I can't find them." His voice sounded loose, floating in the air with absent meaning.
"Find what, Touya?"
Touya's mind drew up a blank. "Never mind, brain blanked for a moment." The lie rolled smoothly. He had always been an excellent liar, a necessary skill to survive in the Todoroki household and Touya had learnt from the best of them. But ever since he came back, lying seemed second nature, and even he came to question when they stopped.
"You sure?" The concern didn't lift from Natsuo's face.
"Ya, but we should probably head back. Don't want Yumi to worry."
The rest of the day passed without any other incidents, and with Endeavour locked in his office, Touya spent the day wishing it didn't feel like it was the last time he would see Natsuo and Fuyumi. But as he lay awake with Natsuo's snores breaking the blanketed silence, the spark— the one Rei feared and Endeavour planted— inside Touya grew. Tomorrow, it was finally Touya's turn at UA.
~ ~The Doctor leaned back further into his chair, apparently in no mood for Shigaraki's games. "Lying doesn't become a leader."
"And here, I thought that's what made one." He replied evenly, not letting slip his urge to strangle the Doctor. Dealing with the Doctor always required more patience than Shigaraki had but business with Ujiko was nearly as dangerous as with his Teacher.
And now that Shigaraki had confirmation that Dabi was still alive, he had to proceed with even more caution. If Ujiko knew Touya's whereabouts, he had the considerable advantage of information. For the first time since this whole shit show, Shigaraki's neck didn't itch. Shigaraki wasn't about to risk Dabi's security for his pride.
"Watch your tone with me boy, I'm not as sympathetic as All for One. I don't think you realize the situation we're in right now, but allow me to explain." The words were thick and slow, like Ujiko didn't expect him to comprehend the complexities of being a real villain, and they both knew that Shigaraki didn't have any other choice but to listen to the unwanted lesson. This and about ten other reasons was why he hated the Doctor.
"Never mind that the most powerful fire quirk on record is back with the heroes, your mistake has cost us more than a flashy quirk. We have lost the ace in our sleeve. Could you imagine how hero idolizing society would react to finding out the son of Japan's top hero is one of Japan's most hated villains?" Dr. Ujiko spread his arms out, never dropping that irritating condescending look as if Shigaraki was a child that was incapable of understanding the words being spoken to him. But after the conversation with Clone-bi on the highway, he could start to understand some of Dabi's motivations for becoming a villain.
"Chaos and distrust would spread uncontrollably. We never needed Dabi for his quirk. He had always been defective." Ujiko flicked his hand dismissively, and the anger in Shigaraki's chest grew. The Doctor had no right to speak about Dabi like he was a broken toy. "Dabi's only role was to serve as a symbol for everything wrong in this world, and you have returned him to the heroes as what? A martyr, the victim that rises from the ashes. If Touya becomes a hero he has the potential to become a greater symbol than even All Might."
Well shit. That made this side quest all the more challenging. In Shigaraki's mind, he hadn't given much thought to anything other than that Touya was Dabi, and thus a member of his League. The world could crumble to ash for all he cared, it never did much for him anyway, just as long as Shigaraki and his League got what they wanted. Maybe in a previous lifetime, Dabi's dream was to become a hero, but Shigaraki didn't trust the heroes with Touya. As far as he was concerned, they already had their chance.
"And how do we stop that?"
"Killing Touya now would be easy—"
"No," Shigaraki interrupted, "we are not killing Dabi. Choose something else. You're some supposed expert. Is there a quirk that can reverse this?" Shigaraki wasn't Overhaul and the League weren't disposable pawns. Shigaraki wouldn't dream of hurting any of them, and he didn't care if he had to reduce the world to dust if that was what they wanted.
The Doctor sighed, heavy and loud, not trying to hide his annoyance. "Sacrifices are necessary, Shigaraki. If you are not willing to do what needs to be done, then perhaps you are not as prepared for this role as All for One believes you to be."
"Or perhaps you are delaying. If everything you say is true, Ujiko, your waiting begins to look awfully like treason." Shigaraki waved his hand, mimicking the way he saw Dabi do so often.
Ujiko stroked the ends of his mustache, pretending to ponder the question as if he didn't already have the answer. "Reversing quirks are incredibly rare."
"Well, there is no one in Japan who knows where to find rare quirks better than you do." Shigaraki had to work very hard not to roll his eyes as the ticking time bomb of his patience dwindled. A slight smirk ripped free. At least now he had the Doctor's attention.
Ujiko paused for a moment pretending to be in deep thought. "With All for One in prison and your League incredibly weak at the moment, I'm not sure what can be done."
"Name the price, Ujiko."
"Bodies, I am running low on nomu material." Gross.
"Done." Toga was even twitchier than usual. It wouldn't be long before she struck up the nerve to turn her knives against Shigaraki again— an experience he did not want to repeat. It might even be enough to get him back on her good side. However, that wouldn't be all. It was too easy, too good of a deal. By now, Shigaraki knew well enough to know he would ask for more later.
"And when this fails, I want Touya's too."
"Fine." Shigaraki wouldn't fail. And if the worst-case scenario did happen, well, he had no intention of handing anyone from his League. With a quirk like his, it wouldn't be difficult for things to get out of hand.
"Excellent. There is a quirk doctor currently hiding somewhere in Kyoto with the useful ability to reverse all, including genetic, quirk effects. Useful enough that the government wants to be sure of their safety. I have been wanting to add their quirk to my collection. Bring them to me, and I will find a way to bring back our dear Dabi."
Turning around with a sharp nod, Shigaraki excused himself. He would need the League, but after losing two of their members back to back, the group's relations were at an all-time low. Toga was just as likely to put a knife to the throat as she was to lend a hand, and Twice burst into tears every time they were in the same room together. Kurogiri would be the most useful to have in this 'Rescue Dabi' side quest, but he was still off doing the task for his master. Spinner was the last one that might still have his back, but he was also the only member actively preventing a mutiny. If Shigaraki asked Spinner to follow him on a wild goose chase after another sketchy doctor, there might not even be a League to come back to. That left only one person. Great, this trip was going to be fun.
Stepping back around the empty nomu tank, Shigaraki reached for his phone. "Compress, meet me outside of the alley, you know the one. We've got a job to do."
~●~"It doesn't make sense." Aizawa picked up the steaming cup of coffee Hizashi placed next to him.
"What doesn't."
"Touya's quirk results came back." Normal. A higher risk and warning to be cautious, but nothing indicated a quirk that could cause a tragedy like ten years ago.
Sipping on his own coffee, Hizashi snooped at the file over Aizawa's shoulder as he moved to the other side of the table. "A level three, huh? That's pretty high, especially Touya since wants to go into the Hero Course."
"But not impossible, just look at Togata or even Midoriya."
That wasn't what was worrying Aizawa, however. Unlike most of the hero schools, UA had the capability of handling up to level three DQD. Most even hesitated at accepting a severe level two. Having private healing quirk and contacts with the top-rated support item companies certainly paid off. But as far as the Hero Commission was concerned, higher-level DQD students were a worthwhile risky bet. Powerful quirks made flashy, popular heroes, and as such, the Commission was willing to fund the top school with the facilities needed for their gamble. It wasn't something Aizawa agreed with, but Midoriya had begun to change his mind.
"That's not what you worried about, is it?" Hizashi hummed, observing him.
"Every Emitter Quirk user has some type of DQD. It's not that uncommon. With UA's support class, we can help students overcome more severe drawbacks." Most of the time, the disorder was dismissed, a minimum and natural part of quirks. However, elemental quirks were notoriously tricky. Users held an incredible amount of raw power that rarely found serious competition amongst other emitter types. On the other hand, users could barely manage limited control and production of their element was more common. Elementals were often all or nothing, and cases like Touya's were exceedingly rare and equally dangerous. "Hizashi, Touya was killed because of his quirk."
Aizawa paused, looking Hizashi in the eye. Even in the safety of the teacher's lounge, some words were better left unsaid. "However, Dr. Garaki marked him as Level three."
"I know what you mean" Hizashi placed the mug down on the table, eyes locked on the remaining coffee but seeing something else entirely. "I was in the area, saw the damage. It's hard to believe that a kid could do that. But Dr. Garaki is in Japan's top five quirk doctors, top twenty in the world, Shouta. With his name on the papers, you are going to have a hard time finding a doctor willing to go against his diagnosis."
"I know."
"Have you talked with Endeavour about this?"
"No, I suggested letting Touya see a UA-approved doctor, but he was adamant about Dr. Garaki." One of the few straight answers the Endeavour gave him in terms of Touya's treatment, the man seemed to want to separate himself from Touya's return as much as possible. Whether it was guilt or disinterest, Aizawa didn't know. However, in all the time that Aizawa had known Touya, the boy watched his father like he hung the sun in the sky, desperate to be cast into its light. He had seen the thunder clouds in Touya's eyes the longer he went ignored, and Aizawa suspected that if Endeavour's disregard went on much longer, Touya might resort to something foolish to get his father's attention. The kid had asked to be noticed, and now he was screaming. Hopefully, UA would be able to help Touya like it had for Shouto.
"You should talk with Power Loader to see what we can offer Touya based on your suspicions."
Aizawa nodded briefly, but the ring of the morning bell cut the conversation from going any further. Quickly finishing off the rest of the coffee Aizawa made for his classroom. UA had arranged a car for the Todoroki brothers, and after a long conversation between the staff, it was decided that Touya's official start to his classes tomorrow. With appointments in the support department and a visit with Recovery Girl, adding on class on top of that would be too overwhelming.
Not to mention Aizawa had promised Eri she could stop by and say hello to Touya. The girl spent the better part of yesterday meticulously making and re-making thank you cards with Mirio. The older student later enthusiastically explained Eri's attention to detail. Filling and then erasing the colour of Touya's fire, in the end, the card simply showed Touya with Eri holding an apple with a large blue and purple 'thank you,' The copies Eri discarded were tucked away safely in the desk drawer Aizawa mentality labelled Eri's.
"Quiet." His class might be filled with nothing but problem children, but at least they knew when to listen to him. Sometimes.
"Starting tomorrow, Class 1A will welcome a temporary student." An eager hush clung to the room as the class hung on Aizawa's words, waiting for him to continue.
"You have already met Eri. But for his safety, the decision was made to keep this information on a need-to-know basis. Very few people are currently aware that we also found a teenager during the raid on the Shie Hassaikai." Aizawa glanced at Shouto, watching for any signs of protest, finding none, he continued. "During the battle with Overhaul, we found Touya Todoroki, Shouto's older brother believed to have previously been deceased but revived by Eri."
For the briefest moment, the room stood frozen as all eyes turned from Aizawa to Shouto. To his credit, Shouto remained still as the silent chaos started. Immediately the room's reactions spilt as Midoriya moved to stand beside Shouto, the act shattering the still reverence that no one else dared to break.
The downfall to order arrived soon after. Kaminari instantly paled, and the acid taste of rouge electricity buzzed nervously as Yaoyorozu let out a little gasp before turning wide eyes towards Shouto. Even the more composed students, like Tokoyami, looked deeply disturbed by the implications that Eri had been used to bring back the dead. Meanwhile, Kirishima was unusually grim as he looked to Bakugou for his reaction. But the blonde paid no attention as he muttered curses under his breath. If any of them had a chance of understanding some of Touya's experience of being captured by villains, it would be him.
Aizawa waited a moment longer before raising his hand to regain his class's attention. "From our understanding, the Hassaikai wanted Touya for his volatile fire quirk and used Eri to bring him back. For now, that is all you need to know. Anymore of the story will be shared with you by Touya, by his own discretion. Am I understood?" Aizawa wanted a complete chorus of 'yes sir' before continuing. Knowing his class, they would all be jumping at the opportunity to ask Touya questions, but Aizawa stood stubborn in his belief that Touya deserved a chance to enter the new world at his own pace.
"Once Touya has recovered from his injuries, he will have a chance to join Class 1A as well as begin training for his quirk."
~ ~Touya pressed his forehead against the cool car window, trying to keep away the growing nausea. Although the drive to UA from the Todoroki estate wasn't long, the car Eraserhead promised came at the crack of dawn. Early enough for farewells and let Shouto arrive in UA with time to settle back into the dorms with lots of time to spare. But as it turned out, they didn't need all the time anyways. The solemn goodbyes from Fuyumi and Natsou's stiff smiles set off the blistering internal heat of his quirk that happened when Touya got nervous. Made worse by Shouto's much happier send-off from their siblings. No need to worry about the shining star of the family, no fear that Shouto would disgrace the family name. Only a gentle pat on the cheek from Fuyumi and a bear hug from Natsuo didn't make the room stink of fear and sorrow.
Endeavour didn't show up.
The car ride only heightened the strained emotions that carried over from yesterday. And hell, last night had been awkward. Natsuo ended up suggesting that they give Fuyumi and Shouto their All Might sweaters later, sneaking Shouto's in Touya's bag like he hadn't noticed. Stealth had definitely worked better when his younger brother wasn't nearly the size of Endeavour. He might be training to become a smarty doctor, but Natsuo was an idiot to think he could conceal his attempt to get Touya and Shouto to actually talk to each other.
Instead, Touya watched Shouto in the reflection of the window. On occasion, Touya caught Shouto's eyes watching him from their seat next to him. He was still curious, but his younger brother never made the first move to say anything, and Touya wasn't about to. So they sat in silence with the soft sounds of the front radio being the only thing that prevented a deafening quiet.
Sitting on Shouto's right, it was easy to see the resemblance between them. The gentle slope of their mother's nose and the perpetual downward turn of their mouths. However, as Shouto turned slightly, the shocking red was all the reminder Touya needed. They were not the same. Never could be. Because it didn't really matter if both mirrored so much of Rei when Endeavour's fire burnt through them so differently.
Touya would prove them all wrong.
As the car pulled around the final bend, the gate of UA came into view for the first time. Touya grew up on Endeavour's high school stories, how his father came in first place three years in a row at the Sports Festival. The struggles and triumphs of graduating top of his class. The Endeavour origin story. Laid out neatly for Touya to supersede, learn from his father's mistakes and designed to be something greater. Until it was revealed that Touya could only be a stain on Endeavour's perfect record.
The sense of failure heightened by the middle school he went to with Fuyumi — the one built to deceive unspecial hero kids into thinking there were other worthy careers — for all the students, UA seemed like an impossible dream.
But the blue gate towering over the car dreams become a reality. The welcoming Touya to the place was meant as his birthright. The firstborn son of Endeavour, UA should have been a guarantee. Sunlight hugged the glass window panes, bouncing lightly against the UA main building. Touya watched in awe as they drove into the secure campus. An involuntary grin grew, the careful mask slipping for the first time since the hospital.
Absorbed in the sights, Touya didn't notice Shouto observing his momentary lapse of control. Selfishly, Touya took a second longer before rebuilding his cover of indifference, not wanting to give Shouto another advantage over him.
"My classmates, go here."
"Really," Touya blinked at his brother, letting the words sink in. "You don't say."
Shouto nodded, before continuing, completely missing Touya's sarcasm. "Because of remedial classes, I spend a lot of time near Bakugou. We are friends now too." Shouto maintained an even tone, explaining his statement with supposed logic. Not taking into account Touya's lack of context, he wondered why Shouto would have to take remedial classes in the first place.
"Is that how that works?"
"Yes."
The two brothers stared at each other before the car rolled to a gentle stop, breaking the moment. Preferring to leave whatever that was with Shouto behind them, Touya slipped out of the car, doing his best to avoid catching Shouto's attention again.
"So you made it." Aizawa approached, hands placed lazily in the baggy pockets of his sweatpants.
Touya grinned, slightly wild but unusually free from restraint. "Apparently."
The slightly heavy weight of his bag pressed into his hand as Shouto greeted his teacher. UA was even more impressive without the window blocking it. The grounds were still painted green, despite the cooling temperatures. In the brisk morning, not even the rising heat from his quirk could dull the moment. From their spot at the entrance, Touya could count at least four other buildings. Everywhere he looked, there seemed to be something else to look at. The campus was larger than he had expected, virtually a city. Touya couldn't even begin to see the other edge of the school grounds.
Awesome.
"Touya" Aizawa raised his voice slightly, waiting until Touya tore his attention from the surroundings before continuing. "Unfortunately, today you won't be in the classroom. Shouto head off and get settled in the dorms. You can help Touya set up one of the empty rooms later." Eraserhead dismissed his brother kindly but with firm instruction.
"I'll bring my friends. They can show you around." Shouto nodded to each of them. Turning leisurely, without expecting or waiting for Touya's weak attempt to say something. Still, Touya fixed his eyes on Shouto's back until he couldn't see the dual-coloured hair anymore.
"So then, Eraserhead, where to now?" Touya crossed his arms, still grinning.
"There are a couple of things you need to get done before you can join the rest of my problem children."
Falling into step behind Aizawa, Touya tried not to let his fascination show and make him fall further behind. Touya might not have been able to prove that he was ready for UA to Endeavour, but he had the chance to demonstrate to Aizawa that he wasn't a worthless bet.
"Check in with Recovery Girl to make sure that those injuries are healing."
Touya winced, great, another doctor's appointment. It felt like most of his time back was spent going from one doctor to the next but it wasn't worth risking whatever potential punishment UA dealt with troublesome students. "Okay, anything else?"
"That will probably take up most of the morning. If you're up for it, there is someone here who would love to have lunch with you." Aizawa glanced at Touya over his shoulder, trying to read his expression.
Without so much as a pause in step, Touya's mask slipped onto his face. "If that's what she would like."
A diplomatic answer, and one that couldn't be used against him. As much as Touya would like to believe that Aizawa was the hero Touya thought he was, there was still too much unknown for Touya to put his faith in the UA teacher. Rules to a game Touya didn't know yet. However, the corners of Aizawa's eyes softened. Pity the traitorous whispers slither into his thoughts. He thinks you're weak ; the dark corners of his mind lit like Endeavour's fire.
"It's your decision. Eri will understand if you'd like to get settled in first."
Touya gave a slight shake of his head. He did want to see Eri. She was the only other person there that day. The only one who might be able to fill in the empty space in his memories. And maybe, just maybe, make him feel less alien in the world that had moved on without him.
"It will be nice seeing her again. I can't remember a lot from before, but I remember her being scared. I need to make sure that she's okay too."
That apparently was the answer Aizawa was looking for, as the look of concern faded away. As they moved inside the halls of UA, Touya could almost forget how detached he truly was from everything he had left behind. He wondered what he might have become by now if Endeavour had planned to let Touya go to UA. What kind of hero would be?
"Shouto will meet you here this afternoon once classes have finished." Aizawa continued to easily stride through the hallways, like they were a second home, but also never forcing Touya to run to keep up. Grateful for the unexpected subtle kindness, and reminded of the loss of growing muscles Touya remembered having before. As soon as the eyes were off him, Touya planned to begin his own private training again.
"Yes, sir." Keeping his tone civil, Aizawa might have been a tentative companion in the hospital, but here the rules of conduct clearly placed the hero in a place of strict authority. That lesson in distinctions was one of the few Endeavour knocked into him, and Rei pleaded for Touya to learn.
Aizawa paused in front of an innocently labeled 'medical ward,' as Touya bit the edge of his still healing lip. Fully expecting the rush of anxiety he felt when seeing Dr. Garaki. Instead an elderly lady with a pleasant smile greeted them.
"Aizawa, is this the boy you were telling me about?"
As she moved closer to him, blatantly Touya's mind caught up. "You're Recovery Girl! The famed healing quirk hero from the early age of heros."
"You've heard of me then?" Recovery Girl grinned at Touya.
Had he ever, the chances were that if Touya became a hero he would need to visit her often. She was the best, her quirk verged on a miracle and even Endeavour praised Recovery Girl's skill. If Touya could have her as a potential ally, Recovery Girl's support would be game changing.
"Yes, this is Touya Todoroki. If you wouldn't mind making sure he's injuries from the raid are healing?" It was the most respectful Touya heard the hero speak.
"Yes of course. It may take awhile, with everything that he has been through." Shuffling around, Recovery Girl made a shooing gesture at Aizawa. However, the teacher planted himself firmly at the doorway, looking to Touya for a confirmation that he would be alright by himself.
"It's fine" Touya waved lazily. "If I can survive dying, this is easy. Go teach my brother something, give him a head start before I join the class."
Recovery Girl had been gentle, performing the routine exam and changing the bandages with extreme care and expertise. Even going so far as praising how well Touya maintained the burns over the weekend, something hadn't ever done. It was a stange, but pleasant experience. For the next month Touya was to meet Recovery Girl every three days, earlier if he used his quirk, and Touya for the first time didn't dread keeping the appointment dates they settled on.
With a respectful 'see you later' Touya left. Out in the hallway, he barely made it three steps before Aizawa stuck his head out from an empty classroom beckoning Touya. Guess this was it. Time to face one other person who knew anything about his lost time.
"Hi, Eri" Touya knelt down to look her in the eye. "I wanted to say thank you for saving me."
"You came back." Hopeful red eyes peered as Eri moved away from the blonde teenager. Approaching Touya like he would disappear if she made the wrong movement.
"I said I would, didn't I?" The words slipped out naturally before Touya could call them back. A simple drawl tugged down the corners of his words, making him sound older in his own ears. The ease of the words removed from the strict rules of politeness that Rei would have gently corrected away. They were his words, and also not at the same time. But he couldn't recall if he had ever made the promise.
To his horror, tears started to well in Eri's eyes "hey, please don't cry."
"It's all my fault" Eri hugged an arm against her chest, a small sniffle, but her voice— filled with too much shame for someone so young— didn't waver. "I ruined your life."
Aizawa moved closer as Touya positioned himself to obscure Eri from his view. An instinctual move that Touya often pulled to hide a crying sibling from Endeavour. Delicately Aizawa side-stepped Touya, crouching down to hand Eri a pink-cat handkerchief. The UA teacher didn't tell Eri to stop crying, nor did he scold Touya for his feeble attempt to block his path. As the UA teacher ruffled Eri's hair, Touya observed in quiet confusion. Aizawa constantly proved himself a puzzle to Touya.
"You didn't ruin my life Eri." Lowering his voice, like how he used to comfort Natsuo as his brother tried to bandage Touya after training or pulled Shouto to the side as Endeavour yelled at Rei. "If anything, you gave me another chance."
However, even with Aizawa and Touya's attempt to make Eri feel better, fresh tears rolled down the girl's face. At a loss, Touya racked his brain for something to stop Eri's panicked guilt that she apparently destroyed Touya's joke of a life. Freeing his hand Touya called a small flame, forming it into a white rose that flickered cheerily in his palm. "See, Eri, I'm alright. And next, I promise I will protect you better." Red eyes widened, watching Touya, searching his face for something. For what, Touya didn't know, but he tried to give a reassuring smile.
"Would you like to give Touya your gift now?" Aizawa pulled an object from his pocket and prodded it encouragingly to Eri. Touya let the flame flower fade away, and tried to ignore the sharp twinge of pain on the still healing skin of his wrist. Still he caught the edge of Aizawa's concerned look, the UA teacher worried too much.
"It's an apple. It didn't grow on a magic mountain, but I chose it from the store for you."
A little confused but not wanting to crush Eri's budding confidence, Touya plucked the apple from the girl's hand with a smile. "Thank you, Eri."
"I also made this."
Drawn in childish skill but still recognizable as Eri holding Touya's hand. And damn, was he jealous of this Touya's coat. Next time he was allowed, or mysteriously found himself in a mall, he would try to find a similar one. Although there were countless questions that Touya wanted to ask Eri, after the pain he saw reflected in eyes that had seen too much, he decided to wait. Knowing wouldn't change the path to number one. If the time he lost was important, Touya was sure it would come back eventually.
The rest of the afternoon passed much quicker as Touya and Eri spent time doodling that by the time Touya said goodbye to Eri and got measured for the school uniforms, the final bell rang, marking the end of the school day. Not waiting for Shouto at the spot Aizawa mentioned he would send his brother to pick Touya up, Touya followed the signs to the dorms. Walking along the rows of buildings before seeing the 1A painted in large white letters.
"Tensei!" Touya waved at the tall blacked haired figure, recognizing his friend's distinctive engines instantly. But as the figure approached, Touya slowly lowered his hand.
"Hello, you must mean my older brother. I am Tenya Iida" As the kid bowed, a sharp realization stabbed Touya's chest. The rapid thudding of heat pounding against his thoughts, the wave of loneliness threatening to collapse the calm masquerade and apologetic smile.
"It's a common mistake. Please do not worry about it." The other Iida waved his hand erratically in his direction, and Touya took the opportunity to reinforce the walls around him. The polite smile Rei schooled him plastered on his face.
Shouto and two other students besides Not-Tensei moved to circle around Touya.
"Let me guess, these are your classmates that go to UA." Touya turned to his brother. "So which one is Bakugou?"
The kid with the red shoes moved nervously "Oh Kachan is on his way. We should probably move before he gets here."
Touya sized up the student closest to Shouto, the anxious energy rolling off in waves. Twice now something didn't add up when someone mentioned Bakugou. Admittedly, it made Touya want to meet him even more.
"Yes. This is Midoriya. He convinced me to 'stick it to Endeavour'" Shouto turned towards the bubbly green kid. "Did I say that right?"
A crimson blush hid Midoriya's freckles. "Todoroki! You can't introduce people like that."
"Oh. Okay, this is Midoriya. I crushed his hand. But he's my friend now."
If Touya thought someone could go red before, it had nothing to this moment as Midoriya waved frantically at a confused Shouto.
Shouto turned to him, perplexed, as all of Shouto's previous pride turned to into bewilderment of what he did wrong. It took all Touya had not to burst out laughing, the pathetically lost look he gave Midoriya made it all the harder. The embarrassment and misery of Touya's earlier mistake was gone as he discovered more of Shouto's weird and unintentional humour. Disguising a hushed wheezed snicker as a small cough, Touya straightened to finally introduce himself.
"I'm Touya Todoroki. The eldest son of Endeavour." He spread his arms with a dramatic flair, feeling oddly giddy like he revealed a secret that he wasn't supposed to share yet.
"Hi, it's nice to meet you. I'm Ochako Uraraka," A brown-haired girl, balanced innocently on her tiptoes as she leaned forward to examine Touya. With a pleasant smile, she said the words that made Touya's cheerful mood falter. "It will be confusing now that there are two Todorokis."
"You can just call me Touya. I wouldn't want to disrupt things." Touya gave a small, shy smile, and he wondered how no one else could see the acidic falsehood.
Ochako peered closer. "Wow, you look a lot like Todoroki. Are your quirks similar too?"
The fire wrenched forward. Snarling heat begged to show just how wrong her statement was. But before Touya could retort with a comeback as hurtful as a burn, Midoriya spoke rapidly into his hand. "Mr. Aizawa mentioned a powerful fire quirk. Also probably very useful in a long-range attack, but in cramped space, definitely at a disadvantage. Coupled with a lack of ventilation, not the best conditions for fire users. And by judging from the melted walls in the bunker, I would say your quirk can reach incredible temperatures, probably higher than Endeavour's?"
Midoriya trailed off. Concerningly never stopping for breath, Touya wasn't sure if he should attempt to answer the questions or just let the other kid keep going. No one else seemed freaked out by the event. Unsure of what to do, Touya focused back on the girl who had initially asked the question, ignoring the resuming muttering. Shouto had odd friends.
"Not really." Touya shrugged.
"Touya's fire quirk is stronger than mine." Shouto's face hadn't changed from his usual blank expression, the closed-off look made it nearly impossible to know what Shouto was thinking. But the nonchalance made Touya's quirk bristle even more.
The miss-matched eyes trained themselves on Touya, and he had often caught Shouto watching him, not looking away when Touya discovered him. The casual admission of Touya's quirk— as clearly inferior as Touya's quirk was compared to Shouto— made him flatter. He had been ready for Shouto to have grown into their father's arrogance, and if anyone had the inherent right to vaunt their quirk, it was Shouto.
However, in the group of Shouto's friends, the soft look his brother gave Midoriya, the ease to Shouto's shoulder and the tiny unsure grin was the most at ease Touya had ever seen him. The total opposite from Touya's later memories of the determined child that Endeavour had paved the way to become the number one hero. Shouto's time in UA dulled the perfect blade. His brother became reliant on others, his supposed friends, and was weaker because of it. Well, Touya had always been the cleverer of the two.
"I want to defeat the number one hero. I'm not here to make friends" Touya moved to leave, thoroughly done with Shouto and his friends. "And I'll burn anything that stands in my way," the or anyone unspoken but overshadowing his words. Finally, the group moved to give him space.
"Huh, what did you say, Spicy Hot?"
Touya turned a venomously sweet smile to the angry blonde kid making his way menacingly towards their place in the common room, sparking palms extended. Well Touya was never one to back down. "I said what I said, Firecracker. I'm going to beat the Number One hero."
Authors Notes
He looks at me! And I look at him! HE LOOKS AT ME! AND I LOOK AT HIM!- Touya and Shouto this chapter.
So we finally made it!br /
Author of PR "hehehe summer classes mean more updates jkfsdkfhsdkjfh"br /
Me: Wow the audacity of this bitchbr /
Also me: wait a second ...br /
If any of you ever see a summer courses means more time management please slap me with a fish . The burnout from this semester hit me like a ton of bricks. I hope this chapter wasn't too fillery and I'm disappointed that there wasn't more 1A in it, but RIP my brain its as fried as Dabi.
Thank you, everyone, for the support, and funny update comments (these honestly made me lol) the continued interest in this fic gives me so much motivation to actually sit down and write! you are all wonderful gems!
Next Time: The Hero Course
Touya learns more about Shouto's friends, and fire gremlins united of mutual anger issues. The League returns as Shigaraki deals with Compress and Aizawa gets more concerned over Touya's behaviour (seriously someone give this man a nap)