ANSWERS

Inko almost let the ringing phone go to voicemail. Instead, she picked it up and said, "You better have a good reason for this."

"Funny. I was going to say the same thing."

"Cut the crap, Hisashi, and tell me what you want."

"The doctor said you were barren."

"Thank you for reminding me," she said dryly. "If you want to try again, go to hell."

"How curious, then," Hisashi continued, "That I got a phone call from U.A. telling me that my son got kidnapped."

Inko rubbed her temples. "You weren't listed as an emergency contact."

"I wasn't, but as it so happens, the school is legally obligated to contact both parents in missing person situations. And last I checked, we're still technically married."

"Something I might have to fix."

"And fight a custody battle over our son?"

"He's not your son!" Inko snapped.

"Then whose is he?" Hisashi roared back. "Did you have a doctor lie so you could sleep with someone else?"

"He's adopted, asshole." Inko took a deep breath. "The doctor didn't lie. Even after you left, I kept looking. Transplants, Quirk therapy, nothing worked."

"Adopted?" Hisashi echoed. "He's your spitting image! That hair, those freckles, your eyes, he's practically molded in your-"

A long, tense silence passed between them. Then Hisashi broke out in hysterical laughter.

"It's a robot, isn't it? That Quirk of Izuku's, how very convenient that it lets it make and absorb mechanical components. You could stuff it full of weapons and turn it into a walking tank."

"My son is not a weapon."

"Sure it's not. So, you kept my name so no one would ask inconvenient questions."

"Not for sentimental reasons, that's for sure."

"Forged birth certificate?"

"Hacked their systems myself."

"Does U.A. even know? Does anyone?"

Inko said sternly, "You won't be telling anyone."

"You made an A.I. in your basement and let it loose on the public. Why shouldn't I?"

"I can end your career with a single patent."

Hisashi groaned. "You planned for this, didn't you?"

"Well?"

With a sigh, Hisashi said, "Fine, but don't drag me into your mess. I refuse to call that thing my son."

"Good. You don't deserve to."

Hisashi lingered on the line. The clank of ice cubes against glass echoed as he poured himself a glass of liquor.

"I know we didn't part on the best of terms," he said, his voice soft. "And I know that's my fault. I'm not going to apologize for that or say what I did was wrong. But, as someone who once loved you enough to put a ring on your finger, I need to tell you that you've crossed a line. It won't end well. You know that. So, for your sake, you need to move on."

"Like you did?"

Hisashi hesitated. "Goodbye."

When the line went dead, Inko went back to drafting Izuku a new body. With what she saw of this 'Sensei' person, she knew her son would need it.

498

No, this is not an April fool's prank. It's still March 31st. This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill.

Izuku: "I can be a drill, if you need one."

Your secret's out. Everyone knows you're a robot.

"Have you been hanging out with Kacchan? How wonderful! He always seems to have a hard time making friends."