AN: I don't own My hero academia

Can we keep him?

"You got it, Touya?"

"Yeah, yeah I got it. This isn't hard," the eldest Todoroki child snapped back. He was facing a cutting board with a knife half the size of this arm. He didn't want to admit it, but the thing felt strange in his hand. Add that do this odd way to hold down vegetables and this method was a tad ticking. It was so nerve-racking having such a large sharp object so close to his fingers. The lingering fear of possibly copping off a finger was great, but he couldn't say that. If his dad could do this weird trick, he can.

Enji watched closely while mindlessly peeling some potatoes with a knife. The peel was coming off perfectly in one spiral despite him not looking at it. He wasn't concerned about him hurting himself. Touya on the other hand was a concern. The way the boy tried to cut an onion was a little heart racing. They were too hesitant, and the knife was slanted off to an angle. Enji then put down the newly peeled potato and positioned himself behind his son's back. He corrected the boy's hand position and knife hold. "Keep your finger bent and straight. They'll act as a guard. And when you cut down make sure it's straight. You'll have a higher chance of not cutting yourself that way." Like a puppeteer, Enji guided his son's hands to the proper motion. In no time at all, the vegetable was cut to perfection. "There. Do you understand?"

The boy nodded frantically, "yeah of course." He took the other half of the vegetables and tried the motion himself. His hands were still shaking.

"It's ok to start slow," his father assured with his hand over the boy's shoulder. "The first time is always a little scary. I can't guarantee you'll never cut yourself. But you'll get confident in time."

Touya nodded a little more confident. "Yeah ok. I think I got it." He tried to copy his father's method the best he could, and it was surprisingly easy without his nerves. He wasn't as fast as the fiery man yet, but he could still do it. If only a little unevenly.

It was an average Sunday morning in the Todoroki household. In the past, Enji would be working either at the agency or head deep in paperwork. This time he decided to take things slow after the divorce. A guaranteed full one day's break every week, one day of paper works (some slips to trusted employees of ease) along with some training, and the rest of the week was hero duty. No night shifts anymore. He'd rather be at home making sure his kids are safe. Sometimes he'll take half days but those were rare. The guaranteed free day ended up being weekly cooking lessons with him and his boys over time. Every week he'd show them something. How to tenderise meats, flavour soups, how to stay clean. Yes, that is a very important part of the cooking process. You don't want to cross-contaminate your ingredients, nor waste them by having spill on the counter or your clothes. The number of times he used to be scolded for those small mistakes. He wanted to start off with simple dishes like omelettes, fried rice and stir fry. Most dishes required basic knife skills which were what Touya was working on. Not Izuku. The man had a heart attack of the thought of his child's little burnt hands with any sharp object. No, he had Izuku do something else.

"Father!" Little Izuku called while waddling up to his father. He held a little bowl in his hands and presented it to his father. His big eyes were a little teary-eyed. The bowl in his hand swirled with a near-transparent substance with 3 yellow circles. One of which was popped. Its running liquid flowed into the rest ruining its almost perfect appearance. "I'm sorry. It broke." He apologised with a whimper.

Smiling, Enji patted down the child's curls. "That's ok. We were going to scramble them anyway. No need to cry over it."

"But there's a shell in it!" The child explained and pointed to a small piece of eggshell at the side of the bowl.

It was an easy fix. Enji grabbed a couple of chopsticks and effortlessly extracted the piece out of the mixture. Izuku watched with pure awe in his eyes while his father whipped away the excess with a paper cloth. He then placed the chopsticks back in the bowl and asked: "Do you remember what I told you to do if you want to make the eggs extra fluffy?"

Excitedly, the child nodded and quickly showed off his skill. With a bowl wedged under his weaker arm, he carefully mixed the eggs up with the chopsticks on the other hand. His spinning movements were a little clumsy, but at least he didn't spill anything. The thick yellow and transparent colours soon merged into one solid lighter colour, as they swirl in the vortex the boy created. "Am I doing it right?"

Proudly, the man nodded. "Yes, that's the way, but put the bowl on the table. We don't want to drop it." The child cheered an ok before trotting back up on the main counter. Quite literally. Since he was so small still Enji ordered in a step stool so the boy could reach the top more easily.

The family continued with their session. Touya cutting up some vegetables, Izuku making the eggs ultra-fluffy and Enji monitoring the two of them while preparing a sauce to go with the dish. Time flew by as the father showed his sons how to make a perfectly rolled Tamagoyaki using all the elements they prepared. He even allowed them to take turns rolling their own since they had enough extra ingredients. Their father made it look so easy. Swirly the egg mixture around the square pan with some butter. Knowing the perfect moment to roll once the egg's consistency was just right. The swirl was perfect showing off Touya's mildly chunky and uneven vegetables. When the boys did it, they ran into a few problems. Somehow theirs ended up lopsided with a hole in one of the layers. Both boys bowed their heads defeated at their messy creation.

Their father patted both their backs consoling them. "Don't be down you two. You both did well on your first try. You'll get better with practice. Besides these mistakes are easily hidden." He took his boys' Tamagoyaki roll and cut it up into even thickness pieces while cutting out the unsightly edges. He then plated them neatly on an awaiting plate. "When you cut them, you can barely notice anything wrong. Just some have a thicker swirl than the others. And for any odd holes and cracks can be easily hidden with a bit of garnish." Expertly, he poured even drops of red sauce he made over each piece while sneakily hiding any mistakes they had. For a little dash of colour, he placed a single leaf of a green herb on each piece.

The boys' mouths were in awe at the near picture-perfect dish. They could barely believe it was the lop-sided dish they made. If it tasted as good as it looked, they'd be extra surprised.

Enji couldn't help but chuckle at their wide-eye expression. "I know they say we eat with our eyes, but the food isn't going anywhere if you just stand a stare at it. Take your seats at the table. I have some things to prepare for tonight's dinner. How do you feel about salmon? I can show you both how to gut one if you're not squeamish."

The boys' smiles dropped as they glanced at the other. Silently, asking each other who should go first. The eldest spoke up: "We'd love to dad, but I and Izuku have something to do. It's really important," he explained somewhat nervously. The boy hastily picked up the plate and stepped further away from his father. "So, we'll be taking food to my room, ok?"

"Why do you need to do that?" Enji questioned. The request wasn't outrageous, but it was odd. His children usually eat whatever they made in the dining area. Near him. "What is it you need to do?"

"Uniform modifications." Izuku blurted out. Although, Touya looked somewhat offended by the claim. "Touya wanted to make some modifications before sending the final design off to U.A." His brother opened his mouth, presumably to reject the statement, but Izuku beat him to it by elbowing him in the stomach. They couldn't say much after that.

Forced to follow along Touya half-heartedly agreed. "Yeah, and I thought Izuku could help since he's so insisting about it." He really hissed and strained that final line making his little brother sick his tongue at him.

"I can lend a hand if you need it. Perhaps some of my experiences with past consumes could help." Their father offered. He may not be an expert, but he has recycled through quite a few consumes till he got to his current design. Since Touya and he had similar quirks, it stands to reason some aspects of his past or present designs could be desirable to add. Either aesthetically or a critical function.

"No that's fine," Touya rejected. "This is something Izuku and I want to do for ourselves since we started it together. A brother, brother thing. You know?" The boys then hurried along before their father could as any more questions. All with a plate of Tamagoyaki in hand. "Ok well. Bye, dad." They then yelled out of the kitchen without another word.

Enji stood alone staring at the spot where his children left. That was odd right? It wasn't just him thinking too hard. That interaction was very odd. His children would usually cling to him during his days off. Although it was more so Izuku. Touya would join in usually. Sure, he hadn't had many, but he'd usually do something with his kids. Whether that was walking them to the nearby park/forest for extra privacy. Or have some cooking lessons with them. It could be as simple as watching TV. They've not wanted to be with him on these rare days. In fact, they usually drag him into stuff like watching some movies. Them leaving him be like this was strange.

Maybe he was overthinking things. He's gotten too used to having them around on these days. Spoiling them with whatever they wanted to do. So long as it's not dangerous. Like that time Izuku wanted to explore this creepy cave, the boy found up the mountains. That was a big no. He grabbed the child faster than All Might could say his stupid catchphrase. All the while dragging Touya by the arm. Then there was a time Izuku wanted to pet some stranger's dog. Also, a big no-no. That beast was 2 times his size and slobbered like there was no tomorrow. No creature like that would get anywhere near his kids.

The more his mind wondered. The more he began to panic. Did his children got bored of him that they enjoy being together without him? Did they grow into what parents called the dreaded 'teenage rebellion' phase? Izuku isn't even a teenager yet. He's still a baby in Enji's eyes. Just a little taller and far more muttering. No, his little Izuku would never do anything against him. Touya is another story, but he couldn't see him becoming an emo rebel that hates his father…unless they do hate him now! Did he do something to displease them recently? Or was it teenage rebellion? Did they not what him around anymore!

Enji's worries soon consumed him and he dashed to his boy's room. He just couldn't take it anymore. The closer and closer he got the more his mind began to race. He recited odd speeches he found in parenting books on what to say to their children. Things like 'I'm here to listen', 'you can always come to me.', 'I'm sorry I didn't mean anything by it. Let me explain' or some other cheesy simple line. He doesn't know If any of it would be useful. He doesn't know what it was that made his children act oddly. Surely, he was to blame somehow but he couldn't think of any recent incidents. In his mind, it's best to confront them. Maybe it was nothing. He hoped it was nothing. Please let it be nothing.

As he got closer to the door, he heard something. His body stopped while he listened to his children voices.

"Come on, please eat it. We promise it's really good." He heard Izuku said softly. They were an odd whimpering muff beyond the door. It sounded hurt and carious.

"How many times do we have to tell you? we won't hurt you. So, stop with the flinching. You'd think you'd be used to us by now." He heard Touya complained. There was then a snap and a growling tone mixed in with the whimpering.

"You're still hurt, aren't you? Don't worry. We can patch you up." The whimpered then stopped and was replaced by wild scared noises. As if whatever that was making that noise handed eaten in a while.

"At least you don't stink anymore." There was then barking like noise with a snap. "Hey don't bite me!" Touya yelled with a yelp.

"Well, you shouldn't be mean to him, Touya."

"Hey, I am plenty nice."

After hearing all that Enji had come to a conclusion. A horrid conclusion. His children were hiding a dog.

Arata found himself in a peculiar position. He was back in his usual attire: blonde hair, a full foundation face to hide his unsightly scars and a plain light grey suit. All was back to normal. Although, he wasn't sure what to expect when his boss suddenly called him up for a private chit chat. Even worst they were staring down at him on the other side of the table. Their eyes heated while the man contemplated something intensely. The fiery man never usually scared him too much, but he was unnerved by the intense look. It felt like he was going to be interrogated for the crime. "So…you need me to talk to me about something?"

"There is something I wish to discuss with you," the man replied. His tone was dead serious which didn't help ease the atmosphere.

Arata gulped and settled down his cup of tea. "Is this about Touya falling into a lake? I thought we've been over this. In my defence, I didn't know he couldn't swim. Bonus. Now he can... For the most part. Besides, it's his fault for not having good balance."

"No, it isn't about that." Enji groaned in mild irritation. He thought the man was kidding when he said he was going to drop in son in a lake. Technically he didn't. He placed him on some precarious rocks in the middle of a lake and proceeded to thrown water balloons at him. The goal was not to get wet. A 'simple' dodging exercise that ended with his child falling almost immediately. Then it turned into a very terrifying swimming lesson according to Touya himself. Something about a shark but that couldn't be right. That lake was isolated with freshwater fish. Touya must have been imagining things…at least he hoped. Still, that wasn't what he wanted to talk about. "I have reason to believe. My boys are hiding an animal from me. A dog to be precise."

"So?" The teacher said unreally with a shrug. Nerves completely melted now that he knew this conversion wasn't at all that serious. "What do you want me to do about it?"

"I'm trying to confine in you to what I should," Enji growled through his gritted teeth. The man was swallowing his pride here. Asking for help from another on advice about his kids. There's not many he could turn to either. His pool of friends/ close-ish confidants was very limited. Thinking about it there was only one person there and he was talking right at him. Maybe he should have asked the internet.

"How should I know the nuances of parenthood when a child hides a pet from their parents," Arata complained while swirled a spoon in his cup. He looked completely disinterested in his employer's strife. "Although I have seen some old movies about the said predicament. Has the dog tried to chew on your shoes yet?"

Enji clearly wasn't having this nonsense, so he slammed his hands at the desk. This is the last time he asked anyone for help. He'll just order in more parenting guide books. They're clearly more helpful than this man.

Chuckling, at the man's thoughts and expressions, Arata lean back at his seat and took a long sip. "If you want my personal option, I'd say you should let them keep the creature." Enji opened his mouth to interject but it was immediately shut by Arata quirk. The teacher held out a finger for silence. Although it wasn't necessary since he forced silence on his boss. "Hear me out. Having a pet is a good way to introduce responsibility to a child. It will also make a good companion in the future. Izuku especially would benefit from that since he's home-schooled and Touya will be occupied with school once the academic year starts. An animal friend might be good." He explained making the other settle down. They were heavily against the idea still. Too bad for them Arata wasn't done. "There's also the fact the children might have grown attached to it. If you forcefully take it way, they might lash out. Say things like 'you're the worst'. 'You're being unfair'. And the ever so famous 'I hate you'." Each line the teacher nonchalantly spoke out an arrow that punctured Enji's heart. They killed the father slowly with emotional pain. There's even a chance that they might run away with their little pet."

"Run away!"

"Well, at least that's what I have seen in movies. So, take this with a grain of salt," he ended so smugly.

The line made the father face palm himself. He really shouldn't ask Arata for any of these things again. "Still, I don't like them hiding this from me."

"Then let them come clean on their own," he suggested while pouring out another cup for himself. "You can figure out the rest later." It wasn't the worst idea.

Enji tried to follow Ararat's advice. At least the good one. Really, he did. Just one problem. Patience is not exactly one of his strongest qualities. It was something his father complain about him a lot when he was younger. Although he also complained about him not working fast enough so he might not be the best source to rely on. Nether the less, he disliked waiting. Unless there was a good reason for him to wait, like making the perfect ramen broth, he was not someone who will wait. Especially when he knew something was going on under his roof without his permission. The man didn't last a day.

With flames flicking on his face, Enji glared down at his two children. They were sitting on the bed. A book opened between them. They looked at their father confused since he just barraged in without warning. The flame features also weren't a good sign. "Where is it?"

"Where's what?" They asked innocently.

Enji signed heavily. "I'm very disappointed in you both that you are haven't come clean yet. I've given you plenty of time." Kind of. Sort of. It was only a day, that was long enough in his mind. With a huff, he crossed his arms and sternly stared at his children. "I know you both have been hiding something from me. A dog no less." The boys looked even more confused. They tried to speak up, but their father shot them down with a yell. "What were you thinking? Taking a mutt in from the streets. Where did you even find it? Don't get me started with what diseases. It could be carrying rabies."

"He doesn't have rabies," Izuku tried to defend and instantly regretted saying a word. He accidentally admitted to the crime.

Their father sniggered in smug victory. The two of them can't wiggle their way out of this. Then he heard something from the closet. It distinctly sounded like a yelp of some small creature. Like a man on a mission, he marched up to the closet. The boy's tried to call him back saying that he'll scare the darn thing. He didn't listen however and smashed a hand on the closet's handle. There was another yelp. Of course, he had little remorse for this creature his children pity. He'll decide what he'll do with it when he saw it. Against his children's wishes, he slid the door open with a slam.

What he saw was…not what he was expecting.

Huddling in the back of the closest, buried amongst the toys, shoe boxes and hanging clothes was not a dog. Nor was it any animal Enji would have expected. No. It was a child. A scrawny looking one that was clearly malnourished. His skin was pale as if he was sick. It was even worst around the child's face. It was completely dry and cracked like a dried river in the middle of a desert. Their hair was brittle and thin. Perhaps it was because of how light it was. It was nearly pure white, but I did have a slight light blue hue to it. Another standout features of them were their eyes. They were pure crimson and riddled in fear. The small child's body shivered while they tried to escape the man's gaze. That was impossible since there was nowhere to run. So, they curled themselves into a ball hoping they would disappear.

Understandably, Enji was terribly confused. He was so confused his words were stuck in his throat as he was trying to process what he was seeing. What his children had been hiding all this time was a child. A human child.

"Izuku, it's time for lesson…oh?" The timing couldn't be any more awkward as Arata walked into this very strange situation. His eyes mapped the room as he tried to piece together what was going on. He had some very odd pieces to use. The boys looking like there were caught doing something bad. His boss was frozen in front of a closet and a new face he hasn't seen before. "Hum…did I come at a bad time?"

Quickly, the boys rush to the closest squeezing past the frozen form of their father. Izuku leapt onto the child wrapping his arms around their neck and squishing their cheeks together. He looked up at his father with pouty lips and begging eyes. Touya also joined in by casually circling around them with a smug smile. He then wrapped his arms around the smaller boys. "Can we keep him?" They both said in a sing-song way.

"We promise to take care of him really well," Izuku begged and held the child tighter. They were slowly blushing a good tomato colour.

"Yeah, and he only bites a little bit." As if offended by the comment the elder Todoroki child made, the boy snapped up at him forcing him to back off with a grin. "See, only a little."

"THAT IS A CHILD! NOT A DOG!" Enji yelled at the top of his lungs. Still not completely sure what he was seeing. He couldn't even begin to believe the words that came out of this mouth. A child. His children were hiding a child. Where did they find him and why haven't they told him? He made a mental note at the back of his mind to call child services after, extracting all his wanted answers from his children.

Curiously, Arata walked closer to the rucks. Not completely certain what he walked into. He looked a closer look at the child in question. They looked so dishevelled. Clearly a street kid. A frightened one at that. They huddled closer to the Todoroki boys but there was something about the boy's eyes. How they shook and darted around like a trapped mouse looking for an escape route. Oddly, they had a magnetic effect on him. They were drawing him in until he found himself on his knees facing the child. He ignored the odd glances from the Todoroki family and just stared and focused on the child. What he saw. What he heard. It affected him in a way.

Soon the man smiled and did something unexpected. He squeezed past Enji and knelt before the new child with a curious expression. Then he started making silly faces and noises. Stretching and pinching his ears or cheeks out. Or thin them like a fish face. Stuck his tongue out on a few occasions. Even rolled his eyes in odd ways making his pupil bounce in his sockets.

The action confused the Todoroki family. Just what on earth was the man doing. Even the child himself looked confused. Much of his fear melted away while he tilted his head. "You're weird," he finally spoke proper in a weak and raspy voice. It sounded like he hadn't drunk water for days.

Arata's dropped his silly expressions. An odd silence lingered before his lips curled to a grin. It curled and winded until he could hold it in anymore. "AHAHAAHAHA!" He bellowed. The laugher was hearty and uncontrollable. While those around him looked at him as if he were crazy, Arata just laughed and laughed. He had to hold his stomach from hurting. Eventually, his laugher died down. A smile crept at his lips. "I supposed that was weird," Arata said cheerfully. Strangely, using his lower voice. Then he gently stroked the child's head. They flushed but allowed the contact while shyly looking down. It was then Arata got bolder. He lunched forward embracing the child, making them squeak in surprise. He then turned to his boss and said in a high pitch almost childlike whine: "can we keep him, Enji? He's so cute. I promise. I will help the boys take good care of him."

"NOT YOU TOO!"

AN: Welcome little hand child. You're piece number 2 in this first arc of this season and will probably be very different form your canon counterpart.

TheSnackMix -well glad you're enjoying things so far. I probably will take breaks more frequently this season since it will be so long. And there are a lot of stuff in the background with some other things. I'll try to do my once-a-week updates give or take like last season though.

Any that's all. We'll be seeing a lot more of tiny hand child this first part of the season.