An early Christmas special because I'm terrible at doing them on time.

Note: I am going based on the American Christmas (spending time with family, buying lots of gifts for friends, etc.) and birthday (cake, lots of presents for the birthday person, games, etc.) celebrations because I am American.

Full summary (for my FF dot net peeps): An invitation from their father sends Kazumi and Shoto into panic mode. Meanwhile, Bakugo is struggling to figure out what to get his girlfriend and Izuku and Ochaco just want a peaceful holiday with Eri.

"Dammit…"

Shoto ran a hand through his half-and-half hair as he stared at the email he'd just gotten from his father a few hours earlier.

Shoto,

With the Christmas and New Year's holidays coming up, it means that it is now a time for family. And to that end, with your mother now released from the hospital and your sister returned, I would like for both you and Kazumi to join the rest of us for your break to celebrate together. It will be our first celebration as a family in thirteen years and I simply cannot wait for the two of you to arrive at the estate. After all, your sister has not been there since we found her again. Please consider my offer and how much this would mean to your mother.

I await your response,

Endeavor.

He wanted to decline. He really fucking wanted to decline. But the last line made him pause and he knew that had been his father's intention. It was a manipulative guilt-trip and sadly it had worked. Endeavor wanted his two youngest—his most powerful children—to come home for the holidays because it would mean a lot to Rei. Shoto knew that it wasn't only a guilt-trip; it was the truth. Rei had made regular efforts to spend time with her twins but that time had been limited due to things like classes and internships and what-have-you. Christmas was the perfect time to rebuild their relationships and for Kazumi to get to know her blood relatives.

But she also has Inko and Izuku. Not to mention Eri and Ochaco and Bakugo.

Shoto picked up his tablet and rushed over to his sister's room. He knocked on her door, which she opened just a few seconds later.

"Hey, what's up?" she asked.

"I just received an email from Father. He is… requesting the two of us come home to the estate for the holidays." Kazumi blinked and stepped aside for him to come in.

Shoto realized it was the first time that he'd really been in his sister's room when it was light enough to see. Last time had been during the 'Dorm Intruder' incident when Bakugo had freaked them all out over nothing after a scary movie and that was when her room had been a mess due to her taking care of a sick Eri at the time.

Kazumi had a room that was suited to her personality. Hanging on the wall beside her bed were pictures—pictures of her classmates, her adoptive family, Eri, one of her and Bakugo that was clearly a candid taken by Izuku, and even one he remembered taking when their older siblings had really met her for the first time. A small fountain sat in the corner; it was presumably for practicing her hydrokinesis. By the balcony door an armchair suited for reading sat next to a floor lamp for the same purpose. Her bookcase was crammed with novels in both Japanese and English of varying subjects as well as having a place of honor on top of the small storage unit for her two albums.

In other words, it was definitely perfect for her.

"He really wants us both?" She was sitting cross-legged on her dark blue comforter, looking concerned.

"Yes." Shoto sat down on her desk chair. "He specifically named you."

"Huh." Kazumi furrowed her brow.

"I understand if you're skeptical—"

"No, I just didn't think he actually remembered my name." Shoto chuckled and his sister leaned back, stretching out her legs. "In all seriousness, though, why the hell does he think I'd spend time with him after the hell he put me through as a toddler?"

"He claims it would mean a lot to Mother." The water heroine blinked and returned to her cross-legged position before burying her face in her hands.

"Goddammit…"

"Yes. That was my thought as well."

"He's trying to manipulate us."

"Of course he is."

"But… it would mean a lot to Mother and I don't wanna disappoint her…" Kazumi groaned and fell sideways, burying her face in her pillow.

"What if your adoptive family could be with you? And Bakugo as well?"

(Shoto refused to call Bakugo her boyfriend. It felt too weird.)

"I mean, I'd probably go anyway, just for Mother. But make sure it's okay, I guess?" She sat up a little and shrugged. Shoto nodded and tapped out a response to his father while Kazumi laid on her back and stared at the ceiling.

Father,

Kazumi and I are willing to come for the holidays. However, I would like to request that we invite along her adoptive family as well as her significant other. She is unused to our lifestyle and it would help her feel much more comfortable. This would include the Midoriyas, Ochaco Uraraka, and little Eri.

I await your response,

Shoto.

There. The message was sent.

Now all that was left to do was wait.

"HOLY CRAP!"

Bakugo couldn't hold back the exclamation as he stared at the manor.

"Icy-Hot, you grew up here?!"

"Yes, Bakugo, and lower your voice," the hot-and-cold young man responded. "Someone may overhear."

"It's big…" whispered Eri with wide eyes, clinging to her mother and father.

"It'll be fine, Eri," Ochaco told her, though the brunette was shaking a little.

Kazumi took a deep breath and Bakugo squeezed her hand to comfort her slightly. She smiled as the door opened to reveal her older sister Fuyumi.

"Kazumi! Shoto!" the young woman gasped, hugging her two youngest siblings. "Welcome home!"

"Hello, Fuyumi," Kazumi replied. The elder Todoroki daughter's eyes turned to their other guests.

"Oh, and I remember Inko and Izuku. Uraraka was in the Sports Festival and so was Bakugo. And this is…?" Her gaze was now on Eri.

"Eri. She's my niece for all intents and purposes," Kazumi explained.

"Well, come inside! Mother's been waiting!"

They entered the house to find Rei in some sort of large space. It was a room meant for celebrations that only contained a large Christmas tree, bare except for the red, green, and blue lights that hung in its branches, and several boxes stacked nearby. Rei let out a happy gasp as she turned and hugged her youngest babies, making sure to greet the others warmly and gush over how adorable Eri was.

"How old are you, sweetheart?"

"I'm gonna turn eight tomorrow!" Eri smiled happily, seemingly becoming more comfortable with Rei.

"Mother, where will we be sleeping?" Kazumi asked. "I would like to set my bag down so we can get settled."

"Oh, follow Fuyumi. Your other brothers will be here tomorrow."

As it turned out, Eri would be sharing a room with Ochaco and Izuku had to stay with Bakugo. Inko got her own space, as did Kazumi. In fact, according to Fuyumi, it was actually Kazumi's bedroom should she ever stay at the manor alone. With their bags dropped off, everyone returned to the hall where Rei was waiting. She smiled as she led them to the dining room.

Bakugo grumbled as he checked a website.

None of this is fucking good enough.

It was his and Kazumi's first Christmas as a couple. Really, it should've been their second, but he'd been an idiot in their first year and last Christmas had been spent full of anger and bitterness and resentment. This year was different. He was determined to get her a gift that she'd love, one that would be a hell of a lot better than the birthday gift he'd given her (becoming her boyfriend—lame because he hadn't gotten her an actual present). But that was proving difficult to do while not exceeding his price range and finding something she'd actually, you know, like.

She'll be seventeen next month and we'll be less than three months away from third year. Just over a year away from graduation.

Jesus…

He needed help. He knew that much. Currently, his only options for said help were Round-Face, Pipsqueak, Inko, Deku, and Icy-Hot. Needless to say, he wasn't fond of his prospects, especially since he was in the Sperm Donor's house for the holidays and the idea of spending Christmas with the man who'd psychologically scarred his girlfriend didn't sit well with him. Her birth mom was cool, though, and her older sister seemed pretty likable and friendly so far. He hadn't met her other two brothers yet but he would the next day.

Dammit…

"Something wrong, Kacchan?"

Oh, right. He was sharing a fucking room with Deku because there were a lot of guests or something.

"Your sister is impossible to shop for."

"Well, you know, she's not really going to care what you get her."

"I want to make up for my lackluster birthday gift."

"…you mean when you two got together after her birthday party?"

"Fuck you."

"Hey, I'm willing to help. What's your price range?"

Bakugo showed him and Izuku shrugged with a smile.

"You can find Kazumi something easily with that much."

"Says you. Round-Face is probably happy with whatever the hell you give her."

"Don't forget—I've been buying Christmas gifts for Kazumi since we were four. I don't think you've given her a gift in your life."

That was true; Bakugo hadn't except for that album the previous year, but that had been anonymous. This would be given to Kazumi right to her face.

"Honestly, don't put too much stock in the gifts you're giving people. It doesn't really matter. Good night!"

Bakugo sighed and shut his laptop with a glare.

Lucky fucking Deku…

The next morning, Kazumi's two oldest brothers—Toya and Natsuo—arrived at the house shortly after breakfast. Rei seemed happy to have all five of her children home for once and even suggested that all the kids leave to go Christmas shopping while she and Inko baked some Christmas cookies. In reality, though, they were going to bake Eri a birthday cake and needed some time to set up for a small celebration. She'd discussed it with the Midoriya-Uraraka party beforehand and they'd insisted she didn't need to, but she wanted to give Eri a nice birthday since she'd interrupted their plans to invite them over for the holidays.

Downtown, Eri's eyes widened at all the lights and decorations. Her previous Christmas had been spent with the teachers at UA due to worries that yakuza members would try and take her away. This year was different because her father had made it clear that he wanted to spend the holidays with his daughter and Aizawa had given in to Eri's pout.

"There's so many people…" she marveled with a sparkle in her eyes.

"Stay with your mommy and daddy," Kazumi advised, Bakugo clutching her hand tightly. "We need to do some shopping."

"Okay!"

Eri watched her aunts and uncles walk away and looked up at her mommy, who was eying something in a window.

"Do you want that for Christmas, Mama?" Eri asked.

"No, Eri. I'm just looking, okay?"

"Yeah. What do you want?"

"Well, my birthday's coming up, too. I don't need too much."

Eri looked thoughtful, then gasped.

"Mama, I wanna go shopping with Papa." She nudged Izuku and he nodded.

"I'll take Eri. Meet back here in an hour?"

"You got it!"

Izuku and Eri walked towards an indoor shopping center. Once inside, Izuku looked down at his daughter.

"Let me guess: you want to buy your mama's birthday present."

"And you need Mama's presents, too!"

"C'mon, then. We have a lot of ground to cover!"

An hour later, the group met back up and Izuku excused him and Ochaco to go with Bakugo. Kazumi and her biological siblings were going to get lunch together so they could bond, as Fuyumi put it, and Eri went along with them because Natsuo had functionally adopted her as his niece already. It had been less than four hours since they met.

"Why do you need me to come?" Ochaco asked Izuku.

"He's not sure what to get Kazumi for Christmas."

"Oh."

"Look, she's hard to shop for!" Bakugo defended.

"Not really. She likes old-school video games and movies. Not to mention books of any kind. I'm sure we can find a vintage store or something."

Said vintage store was found and was seemingly empty except for a cashier with dark red hair tied in a ponytail. She perked up as soon as they entered, smiling brightly.

"Hiya! Welcome to Twenty & Twenty-One!" she greeted.

"Hey," Bakugo grunted. The girl nodded in understanding—her nametag said Kami—and tapped her chin.

"Let me guess—you're looking for a gift for your girlfriend."

"Wow, how'd you know?!" Izuku gasped.

"We get a lot of people looking for SO gifts in here. I'm the primary cashier here, so I've seen them all."

"Okay, well, whatcha got?" Bakugo inquired, narrowing his eyes.

"It depends. What kind of person is your girlfriend?"

"She's incredibly stubborn and hates losing."

"Huh. Any franchises she's into? Companies? Systems? Series?"

"You're making this harder!"

"If you want, you can just browse. I'll be here if you need anything."

Kami returned behind the counter and appeared to be writing something in a notebook. Bakugo scoffed. His attention was on the multiple displays set up. Every single one had a custom artwork above it that had an artist's signature—someone named Asuka. The one for some game studio called Atlus caught his eye. It depicted a badass-looking group of people (and one cat) in masks and cool-looking costumes.

"I see you are also a man of culture," joked Kami, looking up.

"What kind of games did they make?" Izuku asked curiously.

"JRPGs mostly. A few hack-and-slash that were made with other companies and a couple of puzzle games, too, but their RPGs were their most popular." She came out from behind the counter and pulled a game off the shelf. It was called Persona 5 and featured the group from the sign without their masks. "This was part of their most popular franchise. I've played it three times."

"Well, you have the first one?"

"Nope. But it doesn't really matter. None of the games are really connected. They just share mechanics and general themes. Only one character even carries over from game to game and he's pretty… self-explanatory." She flipped it over and smiled. "And you're lucky—this is a mint-condition copy of P5R with the sticker!"

The sticker on the back that she'd pointed out was the store's logo—an owl and a cat colored violet and teal respectively—and she seemed excited for them. Kami disappeared into the back and returned with a box.

"Tell me, does your girlfriend have a PS4?"

"No idea," snorted Bakugo. "Ask Deku."

There was a loud thud from the back room and frantic footsteps before it flew open to reveal a girl with dark brown hair looking incredibly freaked out.

"Hey, Asuka's alive!" Kami joked.

"Deku's here?!" Asuka squeaked, gripping the mechanical pencil in her hand. Izuku nervously raised his hand and she gasped, running into the back room and returning with an album. "Please, sign this!"

"Um… me?"

"Yeah! You're All-Might's successor, aren't you?! I've been following news reports about you since that article on 1-A last year!"

There was so much excitement in her eyes. She couldn't have been older than fourteen and was small for her age, big brown eyes and wearing jeans and an All-Might sweatshirt. Kami smiled.

"Please, Deku, can I get your autograph?!"

"S-sure…" He shakily signed her album and her eyes turned to Bakugo and Ochaco.

"Uravity and Ground Zero, too?!"

They gave Asuka their autographs when prompted and Asuka ran into the back, not coming out again.

"No, we don't have a PS4," Izuku told Kami, still a little shaken by the fan he'd just met.

"You're in luck. I'm running what I call a 'roulette special'. Only available if you pick up a stickered copy of a game and that's the luck of the draw. Eighteen games get the sticker each day and it's not the same game two days in a row. And it's eighteen different games, too."

"So… what exactly does that mean?" Bakugo asked.

"Simple. This game is two thousand yen. But with the roulette sale, you can get the game and one other item of your choice for just ten thousand extra. Since she doesn't have a PS4, that can include the system."

She pulled the game system out of the box and Bakugo balked.

Holy shit!

"Otherwise, the system is twenty-thousand."

"I'll take your weird special."

"Thank you. It is weird. But you'll find at Twenty & Twenty-One, 'weird' is our specialty."

Celebrating Eri's birthday was fun. She was legitimately surprised by the cake and presents, which were more than she'd ever really received in her eight years of life. To make things even better, Endeavor still had yet to make an appearance at this family gathering. According to Rei, he was busy with work and couldn't make it until Christmas Eve. That was fine by everyone.

The next morning saw Rei kicking Christmas decorating into overdrive. Everyone had to help out and Eri got the honor of placing the first ornament on the tree since she was the youngest. Kazumi carefully hung a delicate-looking snowflake that looked brand-new. Her birth mother smiled sadly.

"Something wrong, Mother?" she asked.

"It's just… that was your favorite ornament when you were a toddler. It was the one you picked to hang on the tree for the two years you were allowed."

Kazumi suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

"It was around this time of year that we lost you, shortly before you turned four." Rei wiped her eyes. "But that's a story for another time."

"Mother, do… do you have any baby pictures of me that I could…"

"Of course I do. Let's finish decorating first."

The white-haired teen did just that, her mind now drifting to questions she'd longed to ask her birth family for as long as she could remember. Her eyes went to Bakugo, who was helping Eri reach a higher branch by putting her on his shoulders. She had to hide her smile behind a curtain of her hair.

'Cute' was not a word most people would use to describe Katsuki Bakugo, but Kazumi wasn't most people. She doubted he would appreciate the term. He made it too easy, though, when he spent time with Eri or did things for Kazumi. Four-year-old her would've gagged at the thought of Bakugo being anything but mean or annoying or stupid and sixteen (almost seventeen)-year-old her found it charming. They argued a lot but that was how they communicated when they were frustrated with each other. Bakugo understood her and she understood him.

Decorating done, it moved to wrapping presents and baking cookies, the latter of which Rei invited her daughter, Inko, Eri, and Ochaco to help with. It was familiar territory for everyone except Eri, who had never baked Christmas cookies before. While they waited for them to bake, Kazumi turned to Rei and tilted her head.

"Mother, what was I like when I was a baby?"

"You were much more rambunctious than Shoto, that's for sure," Rei chuckled. "He struggled to keep up with you at times."

"She was like that when she came to live with me, too," Inko chimed in. "A little go-getter."

"I remember the last Christmas she spent with us. She and Shoto spent the entirety of Christmas Eve following me around like ducklings and they fell asleep before nine o'clock."

"I used to do the same thing to Mom and Dad," Ochaco spoke up. "I thought I was getting in the way but they were glad I wanted to spend time with them."

"Do you want to call your family?" Rei asked.

"Yes, actually."

"Next year, you and Izuku can spend Christmas with them," Kazumi suggested.

"Good idea."

Christmas Eve saw Endeavor coming home for the first time since their guests had arrived. He seemingly did not approve of his daughter's boyfriend (an opinion that meant nothing to anyone) or of the extra guests. Inko, Rei, and Katsuki had been working on Christmas dinner most of the day. Kazumi was out in the yard with Eri and Izuku, helping her niece to build a snowman while Ochaco talked with Shoto and Fuyumi. Endeavor's arrival home, however, seemed to sour the joyful and festive mood over the house. Nobody said anything, however, and they sat down to eat.

"Shoto, Kazumi, how are your studies?" he asked.

"They are going well," Shoto replied.

"I'm not the brightest in my class when it comes to mathematics," Kazumi added. "But most of my other subjects are going well."

"Maybe she'll actually break through the quarter-finals in the Sports Festival," Bakugo teased.

"Hey!" She puffed out her cheeks in a way that said she was kind of annoyed but not really.

"I'd expect nothing less of a Todoroki," Endeavor stated.

The three elder siblings stared down at their food. Kazumi noticed and narrowed her eyes before deciding to change the subject.

"Eri's birthday was a few days ago," she told her birth father.

"Was it, now…?"

And he didn't care. Inko and Bakugo were practically glaring holes through the man's head. Needless to say, the rest of the meal was fairly quiet. Once it was done, everyone split off into separate conversations. Endeavor asked his youngest daughter to come outside so they could talk in private.

"What do you need to say to me, old man?"

"I know that you have no desire to be a Todoroki, but I was hoping you'd reconsidered since last fall."

"I haven't. My answer is still the same. I'm a Midoriya… and maybe one day I'll be a Bakugo. But I'm never going to be a Todoroki in name ever again."

"I discussed this with your mother—"

"Don't."

"Hm?"

"Don't use Mother against me. That's a cheap tactic. She knows I'm happy this way." She crossed her arms.

"How long has it been since you actually cared about this family, then?"

"I do care… about everyone but you. You abandoned me when I was a toddler. Before that, you abused me because I wasn't as strong as Shoto was. And I think I know why you left me out there—because if you hadn't, Shoto wouldn't have been as strong. He would've been constantly protecting me and that wasn't good enough. He needed to be detached so emotions wouldn't hinder him. Am I right?"

Endeavor looked into his youngest daughter's eyes and sighed.

"Leaving you was a mistake. I should've kept you here and taught you proper etiquette. You and Shoto would have dominated your class by now and yet you're both behind All-Might's protégé and that explosive boy."

"And so what if we are? Izuku and Kacchan are in those positions by their own merits. They keep me from losing my mind when things get overwhelming. But apparently that's not enough. They need to have the name in order to earn your approval."

"That's not what I'm—"

"Sure it's not. Because that would mean that nothing is enough for you. But Shoto and I accepted that a long time ago."

"Kazumi…"

"I'm not coming back if you're here. I'll see Mother and Fuyumi and my other brothers, but not you. Goodbye, Father."

Bakugo heard her footsteps approaching and stood upright from where he'd been leaning on the wall.

"Were you eavesdropping?" she asked.

"I wanted to make sure I could step in if the bastard took it too far." He prepared himself for a lecture on invading privacy but instead, she hugged him around the waist.

"Thank you. I barely managed to keep it together out there." Bakugo returned the action with a smile.

"Merry Christmas, Water Witch."

The following morning, everyone opened presents. Eri received the most, being the youngest and the only child, and Endeavor had 'stepped out' according to Rei. Nobody was too bothered by his absence. Kazumi practically tackled her boyfriend in a hug when she unwrapped her gift, squealing about how she'd been wanting to play it forever and how grateful she was to him for getting it for her. She'd gotten him a first-aid kit and an orange and black photo album.

"So you can start keeping pictures, too," she explained. "And so you can patch yourself up if I'm not there."

Izuku and Ochaco took Eri outside, where they went on a walk together as a family. Eri was happy to be out and about with her mama and papa, especially since the Todoroki estate had plenty of room to wander. She looked up at the sky with a smile.

"I can't wait for Christmas next year."

Lost steam on this one, hence the lackluster ending, but this should tide you over while I take a break from MHA to work on some stories for other fandoms.

Also, special appearance from me and my sister in the form of Kami and Asuka! And my favorite game: Persona 5!

So long and thanks for all the fish!