It's early evening. I'm at Fujiya Hospital with Natsuo and Fuyumi to visit Rei. Fuyumi sets a bag of clothes on the counter when we enter the room.
"I'll leave a change of clothes and something to keep you warm over here," Fuyumi says.
"Thanks as always," Rei says.
"It looks like it'll get chilly starting next week."
"I'm glad. I like the cold."
"Yeah, we don't like to be too hot, huh?" Natsuo says.
"I'm the odd one out," I laugh. "You guys prefer cold weather."
"Make sure you cover up well," Rei tells me. "Natsuo, you look well."
"Ever since going to college," Fuyumi points at Natsuo. "He never comes home. Says he met a girl at a seminar."
"Oh, is that so, Natsuo?" I tease.
"I do stay in touch, don't I?" Natsuo is red and sweating nervously. "M-Mom, you look good, too! Your complexion! Your complexion looks good! Did something good happen?"
"Shoto's been writing me letters," Rei smiles while holding up some letters. "He said the supplementary training for the provisional license is tough, but he's working hard to catch up to his friends."
"Huh. Shoto corresponds frequently," Natsuo sits on the bed.
"Between living in the dorms and his supplementary training, he hasn't been able to come around as much as before," Fuyumi explains.
"Don't you think it'd be okay for you to have a cell phone now?" Natsuo holds his phone up. "Writing letters is tough, isn't it?"
"You're right. I wonder what the doctors will say…" Rei wonders.
"Though writing letters seems more fit for Shoto," I say. "It's more personal."
"Can I see the letters?" Fuyumi asks.
"Sure. Don't tell Shoto, though," Rei hands her the letters.
"Mom," Natsuo has a serious demeanor. "He officially became number one yesterday."
"Natsuo," Fuyumi whispers.
"The world doesn't know what he did to you and our siblings...how he's treated his family," Natsuo continues. "He doesn't go on talk shows or anything either."
"Hey, don't talk about dad…"
"It's fine, Fuyumi," Rei says.
"I don't really have many memories of him," Natsuo explains. "And he's basically like a stranger to me, so I don't care what happens to him."
"Natsuo…" I give a sorrowful look.
"But I can't allow him to act like nothing he did to you guys ever happened. It's already been about ten years. He hasn't even come to apologize to you, right? He wants to leave the past and his blood ties behind."
"That's not true," Rei says.
"Why do you protect him, mom?"
"Those flowers…" Rei gazes at the vase on the window sill. "I told him that I liked them. Around when we first met, just one time."
"Dad's been here?!" Fuyumi is surprised.
"He's come many times, apparently," Rei says. "I haven't seen him. I'm still afraid...And the doctors also say that's not a good idea."
I recall that time I ran into Enji with the flowers in his hands outside the hospital.
"I don't know what he's thinking deep inside," Rei continues. "There might be an external reason for it. But he's not leaving them behind. He's definitely trying to face his past and his family."
It's true. Enji has been showing signs of change. I've seen the change in his eyes. My phone buzzes in a holster of my hero suit. It's a text from Burnin. She says she needs me to overlook some documents at the agency.
"You'll have to excuse me," I say. "I'm going back to the agency to handle some stuff."
"We understand," Rei nods.
"I'll see you around," I wave at them before leaving the room.
Before leaving to Kyushu with Keigo yesterday, Enji left me to handle the agency. I'm reading through an incident report Burnin completed. The agency is bustling as usual this evening.
"This report looks fine," I say.
"I was worried I was missing something!" Burnin exclaims. "I'll go ahead and make copies before filing it. Thanks, Akira!"
"Sounds good!" I smile.
I grab another set of papers from my desk.
'What happened with Touya last night?' I think to myself.
I recall his change in demeanor when I told him I was out late with Keigo.
'He was often jealous of Keigo when we were kids…' I think. 'Keigo got to spend time with me the most under the Commission...Touya also resented the fact that Keigo was more favored because he could use his quirk better. He thought I would end up falling in love with Keigo.'
"Endeavor!" someone shouts.
I snap out of my thoughts at the commotion around the office floor. Everyone on the floor glances over at the mounted television in the middle of the main wall. The news is broadcasting live from Kyushu. There we see Enji fiercely fighting an enemy in midair. I stand and walk closer to get a better look of the broadcast.
'It looks like a Nomu…' I think. 'But...this one's different.'
After firing Prominence Burn at the Nomu, Enji remains up in the air, confident that he has defeated it. Everyone on the floor around me begins to cheer.
"Yeah! Endeavor!" they shout.
The television then shows that the Nomu actually evaded the attack, regenerating in midair, and attacks Enji with elastic bone-blades. They strike Enji in the face, blood splattering. Everyone around me becomes silent as we all gaze in horror at the television screen.
"Enji…." my eyes are wide.
The Nomu stands over Enji's body that's laying on a slab of concrete.
"The villain that appeared suddenly is trampling the city all by itself!" the newswoman reports. "I can't confirm this, but it seems that many bioengineered human Nomu have also appeared. Currently, the heroes are fighting them and evacuating people. Endeavor, who was the first to respond, has been wounded...This scene...I can't help but remember the nightmare at Kamino three months ago."
Suddenly, Enji leaps at the Nomu and launches another fire attack. The Nomu dodges it, grabs Enji, and plows him through several buildings. Once it gets rid of Enji, the Nomu is ready to engage the surrounding civilians. Enji struggles to stand, coughing up blood.
"Come on, Enji…" I mutter to myself. "I know how ridiculously stubborn you are about giving up!"
The camera pans to Enji's fierce face as his eyes fire up.
"There is no Symbol…" the newswoman sounds horrified. "This is what it means to have no Symbol…"
The news broadcast shows the civilians at the scene in hysteria.
"Everyone's panicking…" Burnin is worried.
"Don't just say whatever you want!" a voice screams on the television. "What are you looking at to come up with that?!" the camera pans over to a boy with pink hair who's yelling at the reporter.
"Stop that!" his friend holds him back. "It's not the time for it."
"Look at that! The flames are still burning, see?" the pink haired boy points. "You can see that, can't you? Endeavor's still alive and fighting! Stop letting something that isn't there get you down!"
"You're taking this too seriously! Stop it!" his friend says. "Let's hurry up and get out of here!"
"Right now…Who's the man risking his life for our sakes?! Look!" the pink haired boy continues.
The camera shows Enji propelling himself through the air toward the Nomu. The Nomu manages to stab Enji with the bone-blades, but Enji keeps driving forward. His flames burn bright and wide behind him as he charges. They continue to fight, zig zagging throughout the sky. Keigo then joins in to support Enji, causing me more worry. Keigo uses his feathers to give Enji more speed, forming what looks like flaming wings on Enji's back.
'Come on, Enji….Keigo...' I think as I watch in suspense. 'Win!'
Enji grapples the Nomu, blasting it with his flames. They ascend further into the sky, creating a massive gust of wind. The civilians are seen taking cover.
"Endeavor...is fighting…" The nervous reporter is in awe. "Even as he suffers...and struggles...He's fighting!"
Enji blasts himself and the Nomu higher into the sky, shining bright like a phoenix.
'He's going to the sky...away from the civilians…' I think. 'So he can release…everything.'
The news broadcast shows the intense fireball in the sky as it shines bright. After some moments, Enji and the Nomu crash down into the ground with a fiery the flames and smoke die down, it reveals the Nomu has finally been incinerated. Nearby, still standing, Enji holds his right fist high in victory.
"Endeavor is standing!" the reporter exclaims. "He's standing! Standing...with his fist raised high! A sign of victory - no - of his start!"
Everyone here on the office floor erupts in cheers. I watch as the broadcast shows Keigo helping Enji stand and walk. On the broadcast, it shows a massive wall of blue flames appear.
"Blue flames? That's not Endeavor!" The reporter exclaims. "That's Dabi, a member of the League of Villains!"
'Touya!' I think to myself as my eyes go wide.
"There's a wall of blue flames surrounding Endeavor and Hawks!" The reporter exclaims.
"It's him!" Burnin says. "That's a bold move… What's he trying to accomplish?"
The broadcast shows Touya charging at Enji and Keigo. My eyes watch in horror as I see them about to clash. Suddenly, someone lands between them, stopping Touya in his tracks.
"It's Miruko!" The report says. "She's come to help Endeavor and Hawks!"
The broadcast shows Miruko and Touya having a standoff. Touya isn't a hand-to-hand combat type, so Miruko has the advantage. On top of that, she's much faster.
'Damn it, Touya…' I think as I grit my teeth. 'Get outta there!'
Touya is then enveloped in a black liquid and vanishes from the scene after Miruko attempts to kick at him.
"The crisis has been…" the reporter says. "Dabi has retreated...the enemy has vanished! I know my voice cannot reach our heroes...but allow me to say this! Endeavor! Hawks! They protected us to the end! They risked their lives! And they won! Here stands the new top hero! I want nothing more but to tell him: thank you!"
Everyone on the office floor erupts into cheers once again after hearing those inspiring words. I exhale, feeling as if I held my breath throughout the whole ordeal. Leaning forward with my fists clenched, I close my eyes as tears are at the brim of my lids.
I've just finished changing into my sleepwear after arriving home from the agency. It's about to be 11pm. I'm on the phone with Fuyumi.
"How's Shoto?" I ask.
"I was able to speak with him over the phone," Fuyumi says. "He's relieved that dad came out fine in the end."
"I'm sure he expected nothing less of his father."
"Are you alright?"
"I was scared for Enji...and I felt helpless not being able to do anything. But I'm just glad he's pulled through…How's Natsuo taking it?"
"He disappeared into his room as soon as we got home… I think he's having a hard time processing the whole event."
"Yeah. Give him time. And you?"
"I'm still shaken, but I'll be fine."
"Thank you for being strong, Fuyumi. For your family."
"Thank you...that means a lot."
"I'll let you get some rest."
"You get some too. Have a good night."
"Night."
I hang up the phone, setting it on the coffee table. My eyes stare down as I'm deep in thought. The back window to the fire escape then opens, revealing Touya.
"You seem pensive," he closes the window.
"In case you forgot," I turn to him. "Enji was in a critical fight with a Nomu."
"Oh was he?" Touya sounds amused and sarcastic.
"Only this Nomu was different. It was much stronger than the ones we've faced before."
"It's a modified Nomu. Went by High-End."
I turn to Touya with a questioning gaze.
"Touya…" I say. "Did you...have something to do with releasing that Nomu?"
"Released him myself," he admits.
I keep my stare at him, sorrow in my eyes. Touya notices and he expected this reaction.
"Did I disappoint you?" He asks. "I bet you're starting to reconsider being involved with me."
"I'm no one to judge…" I reply, taking him by surprise. "You sent that High End Nomu to attack Enji...your father…"
"You're going to berate me?"
"Although I don't agree with how you're handling your hate for your father...I can't say that I wouldn't do the same thing…"
I recall how Enji acted after Touya's presumed death. Enji's ambition was the root cause of the turmoil his family was in. Touya was affected by it the most in the end.
"I can't say what you should've done," I continue. "But I understand."
Touya stares at me as I'm thinking.
"You plan on staying?" I ask. "Or are you just stopping by until you're summoned by the League?" I'm a bit sarcastic.
"That depends on your attitude," Touya replies.
"My attitude? Real funny," I scoff.
I step into the bathroom and close the door.
'I can't believe he released that Nomu on Enji…' I think as I sit on the toilet. 'Touya...just what are you thinking?'
After I'm done in the bathroom, I open the door and look up to see the serious look on Touya's face.
"Hm?" I stop walking. "What's the matter?"
"What's with you and that feathery bastard?" He asks.
"Keigo? What about him?"
"What's he doing calling you at this time of night?"
I head over to the coffee table and see I've got a missed call from Keigo. Touya must've seen the photo of us on his caller ID.
"Maybe to inform me of your father's condition after you released the High End on them," I retort.
"So it's like that, huh?" Touya responds.
"Like what?"
"Seems you two have gotten closer over the years."
"Of course we have."
"So you admit it. You're more than friends."
"More than friends? What are you even saying?" I roll my eyes and head into my bedroom.
"Just admit it," Touya follows after me.
"Admit what, Touya?" I turn to him.
"That you're not just friends with him."
"What makes you think that?"
"It really pisses me off how he's so amiable with you."
"We're practically siblings to each other."
"I find that hard to believe. Quite a lot of years have passed...I bet you two have fooled around by now."
"How dare you," I furrow my eyes up at him.
Touya sees my eyes tearing up.
"Are you seriously insinuating that Keigo and I have had sex?" I'm angry. "I would never! He's like a brother to me. I've never had sex with a man...nor was I ever going to be with any other man...because the only one I ever loved...was you, Touya."
Touya's eyes widen a bit in surprise. I stare up at him with teary eyes in disbelief at such accusations. Touya can see how hurt I am by his words. I wipe a tear away from my eye.
"Leave…" I wipe my eyes.
"Akira…" Touya attempts to talk.
"I said leave...please, just leave…" I continue to cry.
Touya sees he's done enough. I can see he doesn't want to, he decides to respect my wishes and leaves. Once I hear that he's gone out the fire escape window, I jump on my bed and bury my face into my pillow.
'How could he forget my love for him?' I think. 'And say those words…'
I cry into my pillow until I eventually fall asleep for the night.