ONE HUNDRED FOLLOWS. I LOVE YOU ALL.

Would you guys be interested in a separate story of one-shots and different perspectives? I've been considering it - there's a lot of things that I want to add that won't fit the flow in here. The next chapter is gonna be a pain to write.

Let me know!

Father took more shifts in response to the media's frenzy.

Surface level, it could've been made out as a final push for his stats before the new year, but she had a feeling that there was more to it.

Before, Touya had no desire to be the center of attention. It would've been easier to protect the country from the lower ranks where she didn't have to worry about approval rating and symbolism; money and quality of life would never be a problem, yet she could still help the cast from the sidelines.

Japan disagreed.

There hadn't been a situation quite like it. A Hero of Endeavor's status (and age; it was jarring to remember that he was in his twenties) had never put their child in front of the world's eyes. The media had been looking for a final story to close off the year - Todoroki Touya had spread across the country like wildfire.

She hated it.

She wasn't effortlessly noble like All Might. Poster-child sweetheart wasn't an image that she could pull off, but there was nothing Touya could do about it. Every step taken would be weighted for twice it was worth.

Touya closed her notebook with a sigh. No wonder her counterpart had cracked.

"...You don't have to be a Hero." Mother hesitated, braiding her hair into a new style. "I- I know it's your and Enji's thing... but you two worry me."

Something dark stirred in her chest.

"He looks so proud when he looks at you, and I feel like I'm not doing enough... the press won't leave you two alone - I can't do anything..."

She pretends not to hear the tears drop on the floor. "Otou-san needs someone to protect him, y'know?" Touya clenched her fist in front of her face. "I need to be strong enough to stand beside him."

And All Might goes unsaid, as well as his unusual transparency at the Agency. The situation was so delicate; she was just about ready to snap. Mother's temperature flickered - both of them have the same tell - and she wrapped Touya in a shaky hug.

It made her feel worse. Her birthday is only a week away, and when her Quirk awakens, it'll only shorten the time they'll have together. It makes her feel worse because she knew almost nothing of Rei's mindset and ended up pushing her aside.

Unless -

"Can we do something together?" Touya leaned further into her arms, burying her face in the fabric of her sweater. It had been Enji to push the family to their limits, but it had been Rei who broke them. "Something fun?"

Mother's breath hitched. With confidence and laughter Touya hadn't heard before, she cheered. "Yes, yes - I know something we can do! Put on something warm! We're going to have a girl's day. I know just the thing -"

The cold had never bothered Touya; she ran hotter than normal - another clue to her eventual fire Quirk, so she didn't need to bundle up as much as a normal toddler for the snow. She stuck a hat over her shock of red hair and tucked her braid into the collar of her jacket before sprinting back out of her room.

Sitting like a lump in the car seat was humiliating, but watching Mother's smile in the rearview was worth every second.

(Touya is certain that she saw happy tears in the corner of her eyes.)

The massive bag resting on the passenger seat draws Touya's attention, but Mother wouldn't let anything slip. The drive wasn't terribly long - walking distance if it weren't snowing - and they step outside into the flurries.

They stood in the parking lot of a stadium; the parking lot was only lightly sprinkled with cars. Based on the amount of snow piled on the roof, everyone parked had been in the building for at least an hour or so.

Low traffic. Unpopular?

Mother leads her up the front entrance. The name of the stadium had been unlit and disguised under the piles of snow resting upon the display.

Touya wiped a snowflake off her nose.

The admissions booth had been empty when they walked up. Closed?

Mother raised her hand. The frost covering a hidden panel on the side of the wall shattered. She slid it open, revealing a keypad that looked like it hadn't been touched in months.

The white-haired woman paused briefly before punching in a code that Touya couldn't catch.

Access Denied, the screen flashed.

"Ma'am," a male voice crackled, sounding very much not happy about their potential breaking-and-entering. "the rink is currently -"

"It's Fubuki," Mother cut in coldly.

After a long period of silence (Touya could've run a lap in the time it took him to reply), the man over the intercom whispered, "Fubuki-san?"

Mother said nothing.

The doors opened with a click.

Familiar memories twinge at the back of her head, but Touya failed to make anything of it. Mother guides her through a series of hallways before pushing open a heavy set of double doors.

Her jaw dropped.

It's an Olympic-sized figure skating rink.

"My family had funded this place for generations," Mother smiled, pulling out two pairs of skates. They were beautiful, in pristine condition despite not having been used in what could've been years. "...Then, the Quirk Age began, and people turned away from traditional sports. The complex only stands because of my family's contributions."

They sit down in the seats closest to the ice. Mother starts unlacing their skates but all Touya could do is stare.

The momentary revelation of learning something about Mother's side of the family (Fubuki? Maiden name? Nickname?) was overshadowed by the fact that Todoroki Rei was a figure skater.

Todoroki Rei was a figure skater.

Todoroki Rei was a figure skater.

Touya couldn't process it.

It shouldn't have been a shock - Rei had a life before Enji, after all - but it came from nowhere. When she had suggested something fun, Touya had prepared for...sightseeing? Not this. She looked so wistful while lacing up her skates that it made Touya's heart twist.

Mother stepped onto the ice and offered her a hand."Let's see if you're as good as Oka-san, hmm?"

The skates fit somewhat well, but her almost-four-year-old ankles weren't used to the ice; they were shaky at best. Touya was thankful that she had been doing morning and evening stretches since she could walk - her flexibility would be important in skating and hero work.

"Good," Mother praised, skating backward while guiding her around the rink. Her grin was blinding. "One foot at a time, I won't let you fall. Good posture - back straight! - good job, Touya!"

...She could get used to this.

A smile finds its way to her lips. "Can I try it by myself?"

In reality, she wants to see Mother move freely, and from the moment their hands disconnect -

"You're flying," Touya whispered, almost forgetting to turn. She shifts her body weight to the other leg and ignores the strange feeling in her gut. "You're flying, Oka-san!"

"I'm a bit rusty," she flushed, performing a spin that Touya knowsdoesn'tknowknows the name of. "I haven't been on the ice in... I don't know how long." Mother grinned. "Your balance is great. Think you can catch up to me?"

Touya knows that there's no chance for her to catch up, but Mother had a hand reaching out to her from across the rink, and damn it all if she didn't try.

Gathering momentum and keeping herself balanced was difficult - she stumbled more than once - and Mother twisted and turned (though obviously holding back) to throw her off, but she remained on her feet.

(They're getting closer and closer and their smiles are getting brighter and brighter and -)

Touya raised her arm.

Blue flames exploded from her palm.