Author's Note: Hey everybody and before I discuss the latest chapter let me first promote my other story and it's called 'Izuku Can Sing(?)'. It was formely 'A Friend of Mine' fanfic, but I've decided to continue that story and added another chapter. It is a slice of life and mixed with romantic-comedy story which focuses only to BakuDeku pairing. If I were you and have free time, please give it a try and if you have something on your mind, leave a review. Thank you so much!
And yes, we're back to the main topic of this story. This chapter tackles Enji admitted and confessed his sins in front of his children for the abuse in the past.
Thanks for the overwhelming reviews from our lovely readers on the internet! I've really appreciated it!
Enjoy reading!
No Looking Back
"The trials I endured were seared into my soul, they drive me forward even after my wounds have healed."
Date: September 17 – September 18
Time: 7:00 PM/2:30PM
Place: Todoroki household/Undisclosed Mental facility
Todoroki family POV
The family all gathered up and sat on their dining chairs, facing each other on the table for supper. The oldest sister, Fuyumi made soba noodles, soup, stir-fried vegetables, and grilled meat as her two brothers, Natsuo and Shoto looked amazed and thanked their sister for the food. The leader of the household and father, Enji finally appeared in the dining area as he sat before looking at the food his daughter made with a satisfied look. They all sat up and the father made a gesture to let his children eat their dinner before it gets cold.
"Geez, big sis! This meal is so delicious! Better than our cafeteria food in college!" The silver-haired jock started munching like a kid while holding his cup of rice and chopsticks on his other hand.
"Anything for you, little brother. He-Hehehe~ be careful not to choke though" ^^" Fuyumi chuckled a bit as she started eating.
Shoto bowed at the food before touching his meal in a calm and quiet manner, decided not to talk especially he on his position directly faced at his father.
Enji, later with a frown look on his face and observed his children enjoying their dinner while he barely touches his food, possibly the loss of appetite for countless episodes of his unpleasant nightmares that have been occurring every night alone inside his bedroom.
For they do not know, he received a letter of explanation and a call from the hero council about investigating his personal issues about the abuse of his wife and children. They even invited him to meet at the council for further talks.
After slurping her soba noodles, Fuyumi glanced at her father and blinked. "Is there anything wrong with the food I made, father? You look like you lost an appetite to eat. Would you like me to cook anything else?"
"N-No. I-It's fine, Fuyumi…Uhh…" He decided not to look at his daughter, feeling a bit ashamed of himself.
The brothers, slurping their noodles glanced at him with a curious look as Enji took deep breaths and closed his eyes before letting out his words….more of a confession.
"I uhh…I-I have decided to quit for being a pro-hero and condemn myself for the sins I made to this family…."
Quit?
The siblings stopped what they were eating and they all gave a confused look on their faces directly at the father. Natsuo suddenly dropped his small bowl and chopsticks while Fuyumi and Shoto almost choked from the soba noodles as their meal they hurriedly grabbed their glass of water and drank it. Enji didn't know what else to say after coming out as he finally looked again at his children with the expression of admitting his guilt.
"Tch…!" Natsuo quickly stood up from his seat as he raised his finger directly to his father with anger and frustration. "Y-You know…I-I've been wanting to do this since mother got snapped, but when I heard that you're finally facing your sins back then, well maybe it's about damn time!"
Fuyumi stood up as she tried to confront her brother and calm the situation. "Natsu! Please, not this time! Not during dinner time and have some respect—" Enji interrupted his daughter.
"Fuyumi, please. Let him be." He glanced up to the two before looking down.
"Why?! Why are you still defending that old fart after all the abuse he gave to us especially to our mom, Shoto and to our other brother who's been missing for a long time?! It seems you've come to realize the countless sins have finally appeared in your doorstep, huh? A truckload of Karma has paid a visit to get you and they'll crawl behind your back and drag you down to hell! How'd you feel about that, father?! HURTS, DOESN'T IT?!"
Natsuo had finally snapped in the middle of the dinner. Shoto had rarely seen his older brother's other side of personality, all he knows that his older brother is just the typical energetic, optimistic, and care-free character until this happened. He wanted to say something to his siblings and even his father, but he changed his mind and decided not to interfere.
"I get the feeling whenever I go back home, I always think that our mom or big sis have already forgiven you for being an ass. But all I see here is the same maniac who thinks nothing but himself! Who all of a sudden is getting rave reviews in the public. I don't want to judge people too quickly as I really hate it, but in your case…you might look like a changed man, but you're actually not! The damage has been done, leaving painful scars to each and every one of us!"
Enji had to endure all the scolding he received from Natsuo, he did deserve it after all. He slowly stood up before looking at Natsuo.
"You have the right to get angry with me and I understand that. I also believe Shoto shares the same sentiments with you and I completely respect it. This is the only way I can help to cleanse the hero community before we face our common enemy. Even without the Deathsinger's request to disclose the information of All Might and I…..I-I've…I've been wanting to do this in front of my children for a long time."
Natsuo and his siblings went silent while listening to their father's explanation.
"Right now after admitting my wrongdoings in the past with this family. I have less fear inside me in case the hero council will revoke my license as a pro-hero." He let out a sad smile.
"There are things that I want to say to you three, my children…and I would like you all to listen about how I really feel right now." He looked at the silver-haired. "Natsuo?"
Upon looking at him, he quickly looked away with irritation. "What the hell do you want?"
"Even if I'm not with you all the time, I just want to say that I'm proud of you, Natsuo~. You have been a consistent dean's lister since day one of your college. A great athlete of your favorite sport and has strong leadership skills for you to apply in the future. You may not inherit my fire quirk well, but you, my son….your achievements are more than enough to satisfy your father. I wish you all the best, finish your degree and pursue your dreams to become a doctor. I will always here for you no matter what."
From anger and rage earlier to teary and emotional Natsuo. The silver-haired trembled as he looked down on the ground with later tears falling down on his face, grabbing his chest tightly using one hand. This is the first time he heard something good, a good compliment coming from his father. He placed his other hand to cover his ugly crying and sobbing with no words coming out from his lips.
Enji looked at the elder sibling. "Fuyumi. I've truly appreciated your mother instincts inside the household and at the same time your profession as a teacher. Your personality and skills are very similar to your mother and I'm also proud of what you have now. I also thank you for being understanding and the first one who accepted my apology. I know, you've been wishing to have a complete family, but it will take a while and I promise you, after the issue has been resolved, I will do whatever it takes to bring your mother and track your brother back."
Fuyumi covered her lips with a silent cry before looking away from her father. "T-Thank you…thank you, father…"
Enji nodded. Finally, he looked at the youngest Todoroki who is currently in confusion of what is really going on here. "S-Shoto…"
The half-and-half teen stood up and looked back directly to his father. "F-Father…?"
"I was greedy. Starving for power to recognize our pride and reputation as a Todoroki. Forget on what I said before when you were a kid until the last time we had training. Forget the goal of surpassing the number one hero. Be who you want to be, as your mother said to you. Doing good deeds and saving people is more than enough. Do not mind on the hero rankings, because for me and the rest of our clan, you're already number one hero in this household. I'm proud of what you've become, Shoto. Please, don't ever change and keep it your way."
Shoto didn't know how to react and asked himself why was acting all of a sudden, but at the same time, he felt a bit thankful for the compliment he received from his father. The kindness he never showed to his family. He just nodded before looking down.
"U-Understood, father…thanks..."
He let out his final say. "My children. I am not here, bowing my knees and beg for your forgiveness. No, but I hope in a later time that you'll forgive the old man facing in front of you. Thank you for listening."
He let out a deep bow and before he left the dining room, he gave a final glance of his children who are currently emotional after telling his true feelings about his family. He then left the room, slowly walking with deep thoughts and a sudden tear appeared on his right eye.
"If I truly want redemption, then a sacrifice must be made…"
xxx
The next day afternoon, far away from the household and noisy metro environment at Tokyo. It is now or never and this would be the best time to finally show himself after almost a decade of disappearance from his family and to the public. The black-haired Touya Todoroki or 'Dabi' as his nickname, wearing his usual civilian outfit, a black face mask covering his scarred portion on his lower face and holding a bouquet of fresh yellow daisies on his hand standing in front of the entrance of the mental facility. He was feeling a bit shaky and nervous, thinking about what would the mother's reaction on his current appearance and she'd probably jump into conclusion that Enji did most of the abuse to him when he was a kid.
He closed his eyes and took deep breaths to release the tension and anxiety inside his mind before walking through the glass doors of the hospital. Upon entering inside, there were few people sitting at the lounge, probably visitors waiting for their loved ones. And so, he slowly walked straight at the information counter to ask the nurse receptionist.
"Good Afternoon, sir. How can I help you?"
Dabi rubbed his temples and answered in a stuttering manner. "I uhh…good afternoon..I-I would like to see Rei Todoroki, please? May I know if she's available and well today?"
The nurse nodded with a smile. "May I know your relationship with the patient, sir?"
"She's my mum…I would like to see her and check if she's okay…"
The nurse nodded while typing something on her computer. She gave him a visitation application form to him and a pen. "Kindly fill out the visitation form and submit it to me once you're done."
He nodded and took the paper and pen before finding a place to fill out the form. At the lounge, he sat on a chair facing at the coffee table and began filling out the form with a thought.
"I hope no one in this institution recognizes me. That dangerous hacking incident made by Izuku deleted some confidential information. I don't really blame him as he was forced to do it. Thank God that I left the league a month ago as I only left a note to everyone that I may not be coming back for unknown circumstances or something like that. Ugh…"
Ten minutes have passed, he submitted the form at the nurse and was told to wait for a few minutes to encode the information from the form. While waiting, he roamed around the lounge and saw a little garden filled with flowers and everything green at the glass doors. It reminded mostly about his mother, she loved gardening and taking care of flowers as he was one of them who witnesses his mother's favorite hobby back then. He looked at it and wondered if her sanity would go back to normal, could she be able to start over again with her children…..and also to her husband?
"Touya Todoroki?" One nurse behind him interrupted his pondering as he almost jumped from a sudden surprise.
He faced at the nurse with a blink. "Yes?"
"She's located at 5th floor and we were told she's open for visitors' especially family members. Please, follow me."
He felt a relieved for they didn't need further background check about him, thanks to the hacking incident and at the same time nervous of meeting his mom for the first time.
The two used a lift to go to the 5th floor and entered. The nurse glanced at the man and asked.
"May I ask why are you wearing a face mask, sir? I just want to check if you're currently not well and you might spread a virus or something like that."
He glanced at her and let out a nervous chuckle. "Don't worry, I'm well. I-It's just uhh…I have an embarrassing scar on my face."
The elevator door finally opened as the two exited. The man followed the nurse at the hallway and after a few seconds, they stopped at the room number: 507: the room where she is currently rehabilitating and residing.
"Just a quick reminder. We've already informed the patient about you and before you open the door, kindly knock twice. In case there would be a problem or anything, the buzzer is located at the bedside of her room."
"Got it ." He nodded before the nurse bowed and left him at the hallway.
And now, the moment he'd been waiting for. He didn't really know what to do anymore as he just faced directly at the unopened door. He wanted to curse himself and slap his own face for being a chicken.
"Okay, Dabi. You got this and don't be a fucking chicken! Remember, you were also known by Izuku and Toga as 'Dabbing Dabi' because of my weird personality and now you're about to face your mother and tell your feelings at her. Tell him the damn truth, alright Dabi? You can do this!" He thought to himself.
He made a knock on the door twice and later held his hand on the cold chrome looking doorknob as he closed his eyes for a moment and took again deep breaths. He slowly twisted the knob before slowly opening the door. Once opened wide afterward, he saw a long silver-haired woman sitting on the chair facing at the study stable reading a book, wearing a white shirt, light blue jogging pants and slippers.
The woman stopped reading her page on the book and slowly glanced at a certain visitor who entered her room. She slowly stood up and walked closer to him before asking.
"T-Touya? My eldest son? I-Is that…really you?"
Dabi dropped the bouquet of daisies as he intentionally removed his face mask to reveal his face and the scars of the past. His knees suddenly weakened, resulting him to bow down on the floor with teary-eyed, reaching his hands on the other, begging for forgiveness and reconciliation in front of his mother.
"M-Mother. Mom…I-I have….I have finally returned…! I've finally came back and face you! I-I didn't mean to leave the house without a word…it was just…it was just too much! I'm sorry…I'm really sorry!" He sobbed while looking down, afraid to show his ugly crying until the mother bowed down and grabbed him for a tight hug. Later on he buried his face on other's shoulder while Rei comforted her son and placed a kiss on top of his head.
"I-It's not your fault, Touya as it just happened. The important is…that you have finally came back to me…" She also started to tear up with a smile.
"Your siblings and your father would be so happy to see your comeback…We've been waiting for this all along… It seems like the constellations have finally granted my prayers to see you. Welcome back, my son~ I've missed you so much..!"
Author's Note: I know y'all want to read and focus only to Izuku and I'm sorry for this cliffhanger as I only want to expand more of this story. *bows twice* I'm cutting this chapter short because my hands hurt as hell from working and typing this chapter! Nevertheless, I'll be posting the next chapter at the end of the week! Long chapter ahead, I guess. Let me know what you think about this chapter by leaving a review and I'll see you guys on the next one! Buh byeeee!