It's starting to pick up the pace, Thank y'all for reading!
This chapter is a huge milestone for the fic. When I write I plot every plot point out in a list first then use it as a guide, and this chapter marks the end of the first out of three double-sided pages of points. So far I'm really proud of this and it's been a great introduction to writing fanfics, thanks so much for your support!
The train ride is tense and quiet, yet companionable. They make meaningless small talk and pass snacks before settling onto their phones for the rest of the ride. Even Aizawa abducts a bag or two into his sleeping bag before zipping up and retreating into the depths.
Two and a half hours later, the train pulls in and Aizawa re-emerges from his puffy cocoon. They go over the plan one more time, even though each of them already knows it so well they could recite it in their sleep.
Once their feet hit the Osaka station's platform Aizawa fades into the surrounding crowd. The students head out to the street. It takes a little searching, but eventually, they find Natsuo outside, leaning against a decorative concrete stump.
Sero calls out to him from across the courtyard. He looks up, slipping his phone into his back pocket and rocking his weight onto his feet once he recognizes them. Midoriya doesn't know what he was expecting, but it's not quite the college student with a tired smile in a sweatshirt large even on his frame, which is much larger than either Todoroki or his mother's.
"Hey y'all, glad you could make it out." He looks past them and waves to someone over Midoriya's shoulder, his smile still genuine. Looking back, Midoriya sees their teacher wave back and slink out of the background, looking extremely relieved to be free of the crowd.
Natsuo refocuses on the students in front of him, "We should go somewhere else to talk. My apartment's not far. But, I'm still a college student," He reaches up to rub at his shoulder "so we're going to have to take the bus." As they walk to the bus stop he says "Any of you want to introduce yourselves?"
On the bus ride, they learn that Natsuo's studying medicine. His passion comes as a bit of a shock to the aspiring hero's, they've never really met anyone one who dream is anything other than superheroing.
They don't breach the topic on the bus, preferring to save it for when they're beyond prying ears. Besides, a field trip that doesn't end in a fight is a novel concept for the UA students as they gawk out the windows.
Natsuo Todoroki's apartment is not as grand as they'd expected of the number one pro hero's son, but it's not dingy by any means either.
It seems ridiculous once inside their group, which had felt small leaving the school, now feels excessive taking up every seat in the living room. As it is, Jirou is draped on the arm of the couch by Momo, and Kirishima has dropped cross-legged to the carpet without a word.
Natsuo has sat himself in a dining room chair he dragged into the living room. A quick glance at Aizawa confirms the students are very much taking the reins in this, but that doesn't stop him from hovering like an anxious parent. While he's gotten better since middle school, Midoriya's still not the best with new people. The circumstances aren't helping him now either, neither is the look Natsuo's giving him now. He looks curious and almost knowing.
Momo, with her boundless networking and ever-growing leadership skills, takes over before panic sets in, or Kirishima speaks, "We are unable to find your brother. When Midoriya talked to your mother, she said he sent you something right before he disappeared." Midoriya waves awkwardly, "We thought he might be here."
"No. He's not here." Natsuo slumps in his chair, suddenly looking more like the desperate brother he is than the mostly collected man that brought them here. "I have no goddamn clue where he is."
There goes the slight but lingering hope that Todoroki was just hiding out with a family member. Aizawa is on his phone, typing rapidly.
"We're gonna find him." blurts Kirishima, making a sad attempt at his signature grin.
"Is there anything you remember from when you last talked to him that was off." Midoriya recognizes Momo's question almost word for word from their lessons on dealing with witnesses. It hurts a little to have to use that training for a friend.
Natsuo sighs, "We were planning on turning it over from here. It was supposed to be safer, but since it's apparently not." He cuts off abruptly and stands before walking out of the room. Confused, the students all look at each other. When they turn to Aizawa, he looks just as unsure as they feel.
It doesn't take Natsuo long to return holding a packaging envelope, which he gently tosses to Midoriya.
Once he stops fumbling to catch it Midoriya pushes it open from the sides and peers in. Inside there's a flash drive, one of those animal ones whose heads pop off, sitting at the bottom alongside a note which he pulls out.
"That there is the culmination of some evidence gathering we've been doing for a while now," explains Natsuo who is back in his chair. Midoriya motions towards Aizawa with the envelope, he hands it to him when Natsuo nods.
After he settles back on the couch, he looks down at the note in his hand. It's just one sentence, printed on a notecard in Todoroki's measured handwriting "Bring Touya home."
"Who's Touya?"
It didn't seem like Natsuo could look any more tired. But once Midoriya asks, Natsuo droops even further.
"He's our other brother"
"Other?" frowns Sero, giving voice to the thought in everyone's minds.
Thinking back to the picture in Todoroki's room, the one he always turns down when visitors come, Midoriya realizes there was always a taller kid in the back he'd never recognized. Thinking back now, the tall boy had looked strikingly like the Todoroki siblings he does know.
Natsuo glances at Sero weakly, "It's all on the drive. Honestly, as Sho's friends, it's not your business unless he decides it is." Aizawa arches an eyebrow and Natsuo gives Aizawa a pointed look, "He had to leave after an incident." the way he spits leave sounds more like run.
For the first time since they were on the train, Aizawa speaks, "Why was it safer here?"
"Everyone knows dad loves his reputation," Midoriya almost nods unconsciously "never been sure if he loved us"
Aizawa's eyes go stony, his whole demeanor cold and cutting. It's a look his students don't see often. The first time they saw it, villains attacked the U.S.J., last time they saw it Kaminari didn't show up for class and they found him sobbing in the hallway.
Aizawa doesn't lift his gaze from the flash drive resting in his palm. "It should have been safe." He looks up, locking eyes with Natsuo "Society has made bounds off progress, but sometimes this is the disgusting truth."
All of his students look shocked and taken aback. Kirishima may be having an identity crisis from his seat on the floor, judging by how wide his eyes have gone.
Natsuo looks more annoyed than anything else, but before he can say anything Aizawa continues, "This flash drive contains evidence of something?"
Natsuo's face screws up a little as he nods.
"He will be punished" the moment's only spoilt by the fact that Aizawa's holding up a small pink panda.
Todoroki's brother doesn't seem convinced, but Momo quickly fills the silence, before doubt can solidify. "Two months ago UA spearheaded into legislature a series of laws demanding consideration, trial, and retribution of all charges of abuse of power or people leveled at a hero equal to that of any other citizen."
Aizawa's looking at her with almost proud exasperation, "Did you just quote the hero daily news article?"
"Knowing the law is an important part of being a good hero."
"And you find this stuff fascinating," smirks Jirou.
Natsuo shakes his head, "I'll believe it when I see it. Either way, we were going to hand it over, and honestly, it's not like it can get much worse."
It seems awkward to stay after the conversation ends so they don't. They all file out the door. Aizawa leads the way, still clutching the flash drive.
Before he goes Midoriya tries to hand Shoto's card back to his brother.
Midoriya has always felt out of line getting involved in Todoroki's family life. Lately, though, it's been feeling more and more like his place.
"I'll do my best to help" Natsuo just stares at the card in Midoriya's hand. The printed message seems to hang between them for a moment.
"Make sure Mom's safe too?"
Midoriya agrees without hesitation.
When Natsuo still doesn't take the card Midoriya just takes it with him.
The bus ride back to the train station feels different, more urgent now that they have something. No one's gawking at the sights this time.
They're almost certain ages pass before the train arrives, it feels like something's happening and they are missing it.
Once they've boarded and taken their seats a sigh of relief passes amongst them. The train lurches to life as they quietly reassure each other. They have the power now. They're on their way back as fast as possible, everything will be okay now.
Everyone's phone goes off at once, and they're not the only ones. All across the train phones are ringing right and left, even Aizawa pulls out his phone. \
All of them are getting calls from someone at UA. In an instant, every ounce of tension they felt earlier comes pouring into the train car like sour smoke.
Midoriya answers his phone and looks up at Kirishima across from him, also answering his phone. On the other end, Uraraka doesn't even wait for a hello.
As soon as he answers she barks out "You need to turn on the news."
"Wha-"
"No. I am going to hang up now, and you are going to check the live news. Now."
And just like that, she's gone.
Every screen on the train switches channels.