There was an eery peace within the thin walls of the Todokoki household. Though it wouldn't be for long. Shoto was disobeying his father. He was trying to creep away from his training. Silent menace seeping from Enji, the massive silhouette searched the endless corridors. Like a bloodhound sniffing out prey, Enji would drag Shoto out, kicking and screaming if he had to. Enji assumed nobody else would dare to be in this area of the house. The children and workers knew at training time, the House's centre would be lit up with dangerous flames. Like a demon stirring from the bowels of hell. Enji couldn't guarantee the safety of anyone foolish to venture near. Yet somebody was foolish to indeed do that.

In the doorway of a vacant room, slouched Toya. Enji huffed at his posture, appearing like a hoodlum in an alleyway. His eldest had a wisp dancing amongst his fingers, no larger than a candle flicker. It tinted his crisp white hair like an orange ember. At least Toya was keeping the power down and not burning himself. Enji observed him for a moment, before clearing his throat, "Toya! What are you playing that? Do you want to be caught in the training's crossfire?"

The boy snuffed out his quirk and left them in musty darkness for a prolonged moment. Then he muttered, "Can't you give me some credit, Dad? I know how to stay clear of the flames. We trained in the same spot, once upon a time."

Enji grunted, "Those days are long gone. A pro who damages himself more than any villain, will never last as a pro."

Toya had the nerve to argue back, "And a pro who hates his own job will never last either."

"Explain yourself."

"Shoto's training is nothing like the games we used to play. I hear him crying through the walls! Why wouldn't he flee from it all once he's older?"

"Don't concern yourself with Shoto. I'm in charge of his training. He'll grow out of his crying soon and learn to embrace his destiny."

Toya sneered, "I wonder about that."

Before Enji could respond, Toya was already blanking him, disappearing down the corridor. Though Enji was too disturbed to utter a word anyway. He usually switched off the hero side of his brain while in his private house. Even he knew he shouldn't work 24/7, unlike the self-righteous All Might. Yet like radar, his decades of villain experience, was blaring at him not to ignore this.

In the past, Toya's pleas were that of a mere child begging for his father's attention. This latest conversation was still that, but there was an undertone of sarcasm and awareness. It was like a ghost's hand was crushing Enji's head, physically painful to remember the dreaded incident: An eight-year-old Toya sending his quirk barreling towards Rei and an infant Shoto. Despite how sickening it was, Enji knew Toya's screams had been that of pure desperation. The shards of the child's broken soul had reached the surface into momentary insanity. It hadn't been coldly premeditated. Now it was four years later and now Toya's recent words had developed a hint of calculation.

Silently, Enji idly continued his search for Shoto, though his mind had drifted from the present. He wondered if giving Shoto and Toya separate caretakers, was enough of a failsafe anymore. The brothers still lived under the same roof. All it would take is Toya sneaking away and he'd be in reach of his father's masterpiece. New plans were swirling in Enji's head. Perhaps sending Toya to a boarding school was an option. Then again-

Enji halted in front of a small TV room, one of many in the house. Shoto and Rei were tightly wrapped up in a blanket, fixated on the flashing screen. His youngest hadn't been hiding, his distracted wife had failed to inform him it was time for training.

Instantly lighting up his fiery beard, he slammed his fist against the door, "Rei!"

Normally, she'd turn rigged and rapidly turn towards him. This time, however, she remained perfectly still. It was as if Enji hadn't shouted her name at all. On closer inspection, the TV was on a children's channel that ended ten minutes ago and was displaying a 'Come back tomorrow' message. Rei aimlessly stared on, as if it was still screening programs. Had she always done that or was she beginning to unravel only now?

It was up to little Shoto to react first, defensively standing in front of his mother. Flailing his arms, the young boy declared, "I don't care what you've got planned, I'm staying with Mum today! Someone needs to look after her."

Toya's warning that Shoto would flee one day rang through Enji's head. Maybe his eldest son wasn't the only one he should be wary of. To confirm that theory, Enji tested Rei by repeating her name, "Rei."

Suddenly, the life was breathed into her, violently jolting. Pressing into the sofa's back, she hoped to be swallowed up by it, to escape her cruel husband. When that didn't happen, vines of ice crystals grew from under her, forming frost over the sofa. So Rei was willing to use her quirk like Toya... Whether that was against Enji or his masterpiece, he didn't need to know.

Enji abruptly turned away from his wife and child, "Just have the night off Shoto, I've got important business to deal with."

First Toya and now Rei was on a dangerous decline as well. Were Natsuo and Fuyumi closely behind? Paranoia crept down his back like a crawling spider. As the Number 2, Enji could effortlessly defend himself against any assault attempts. Shoto on the other hand... From every direction, people were threatening to knock Shoto off his destined path. Whether it was physically, such as Toya almost injuring him beyond recovery. Or mentally, such as Rei being unable to support him, to the point he's losing the motive to endure training.

Bringing out his phone, Enji's hand clenched tightly around the plastic casing. He'd had these thoughts growing at the back of his mind. In the past, he considered them ridiculous and kept dismissing them. Yet with what he witnessed tonight, perhaps his idea wasn't so outlandish: He'd adopt a companion for Shoto. The Todoroki family was crumbling from the inside. To shelter his masterpiece from that, he needed to bring in an outsider. Someone who hadn't yet been tainted by this household's dark history and could still bring a naive optimism to Shoto.

As for the rest of the family, it all worked out. With this adopted sibling serving as Shoto's new support, Rei could be dedicated to the other children. That might satisfy Toya's need for attention. It could even be a bonus for Enji himself. A child was physically incapable of getting in his way during training, unlike his wife. Enji grinned. It all worked out perfectly.

Going through his phone's contacts, he regrettably hovered over a single number. The Public Safety Commission. They were just glorified cowards, who used cheap tricks to maintain the peace. Though Enji would be lying, if he said they didn't have their uses. Whenever a hero needed a back-alley deal, the Commission was the group to go to, without stooping to literal criminals.

Dialling the number, the Commission's director picked up, "Endeavour- I didn't expect to hear from you. Is the media sniffing around your family affairs again?"

Enji swallowed, "It's not the Media this time. It's the family itself. I want you to scout out children with fire quirks for me."

Izuku let the blistering heat build up in his mouth. Against all physics, his gums remained unharmed. From behind the line, the young boy focused his breathing. He glanced at the red numbers marked on the wall and aimed for the one metre target. Suddenly his mouth became an in-built flamethrower, a thin stream of fire spewing out. When the orange fire barely reached its target, Izuku excitedly waved his hands, "Mum, Dad! Did you see that? I bet I could become a hero with this quirk."

The family of three stood in a narrow room, the walls so stark white, they almost glowed. Not a single speck of dust could be found in the clinically cleaned room. It was technically the quirk department of a hospital, but Izuku imagined it as the training grounds for his hero career. Eagerly, Izuku glanced back to his parents. His mum knelt beside him, giving him an overbearing motherly hug, "Of course, Izuku. It's a wonderful Quirk."

With Inko already fussing over Izuku, Hisashi didn't know how to approach, thinking a giant hug was overkill. So instead he hung back and gave his son a subtle nod. Though Izuku was only grateful his dad was able to witness this moment. He'd finally been given a rare break from his overseas job. It was pure luck Hisashi had been in Japan when his four-year-old manifested his quirk. When Izuku nudges his mum to unravel her arms, it allowed Hisashi leaned down to Izuku, drily joking, "So you take after your old Dad, huh? Not too disappointed it wasn't your Mum's quirk?"

The family drew their attention to the observing doctor. He finished scribbling in his notes. Izuku did the same at home with his favourite pros, so it was odd being the focus of someone else's notes instead. The plump old-man of short stature, woddled over to them. His sci-fi looking goggles hid the emotions behind his eyes, "I think you're assuming too much, Mr Midoriya. It doesn't look it but it's not identical to your fire breath. Our medical tests indicate a mutation - A combining of both your and your wife's quirks."

Inko blinked in confusion, "How can my telekinesis affect Izuku's flames?"

Heading to a metal table, the doctor already had something preplanned. He picked up a blue lighter from the tray and hovered it near Izuku's face. Tipping back it's lid back, to reavel the tiny delicate flame, the doctor instructed, "It's better that I show you. Young man: Focus on this and try inhaling."

When Izuku did as instructed: The flame acted like a firefly, suddenly gliding from the lighter to his mouth. As soon as it contacted his throat, it fizzled out without a trace of smoke. The sensation was almost like one of those crackling sweets. For good measure, the doctor lit a second flame and they got the same result. The gears in Izuku's mind turned at this new tidbit. When his quirk was activated, his exhale would ignite fire, while his inhale extinguished it. It was the fire version of magnet pole's attraction and repulsion. A world of new possbilities opened with this secondary ability.

The doctor said, "As a combination quirk, it'll need its own name. Prehaps something akin to Fire-eater or Dragon breath."

Izuku announced, "That sounds awesome!"

His mother chuckled at his son's antics, but softly explained to him, "I know it does, honey, but we should go for a sensible option. You might change your mind as you grow up. "

Hisashi countered, "It's fine, Inko. I'm sure we can legally change the name if it becomes a problem."

Inko wasn't convinced, "I checked the process - All the paperwork will be too much of a headache. Let's get this right now."

His dad didn't know how to counter Inko, so he could only shrug. Instead, he turned towards Izuku, "One thing's for sure, little guy. You'll use your quirk more creatively than I did at your age."

Izuku beamed an optermistic grin, "Ah, Dad! Don't put yourself down. There's plenty of heroes that rely just on quirk strength. There's Mister Blaster who overwhelms villains before they even understand what's happening. Literally I saw this video of him raiding a building filled with gang members. Ten in-"

Hisashi got his son to stop his usual muttering, "Woah, Kid! Yeah, that's what I'm talking about... That brainy mind at work. It's something. Though if it's just strength you're looking for-"

His dad wondered to the line on the floor. Pausing to gather his strength, he sent his fire breath quirk into the air. It only came out as a puffy cloud of embers, harmlessly floating to the steel floor. Hisashi then did it a cartoonish shrug, "Oh, hey would you look at that? You're more powerful then me already."

If the boy had one pet peeve, it was being lied to. Wouldn't the world be a better place if everyone was honest? Lying seemed so illogical to him. Izuku pointed an accusing finger, "Quirks aren't at their full power until you're grown up. I'm four, while you're thirty! Please- show me what my quirk will become."

Hisashi glanced over to Inko, pathetically lost. He was unsure if showing the true power gap between the two, was the right thing to do. He didn't want to make the kid feel weak. Luckily, Inko backed their son up, "Izuku is more worldly than most children. He knows what he's asking, don't worry."

Sighing, Hisashi stood behind the line again. Taking a long time to prepare, he rubbed at his throat and coughed a few times. Why was he nervous of his own quirk? Before Izuku could linger on the thought, Hisashi roared like a lion. It was like a volcano erupted from the depths of his throat. A tornado of fire exploded, each tendril being a different shade and temperature. The blast easily scorched the back of the room, being over ten metres. His wife's and son's jaws gaped. Though Hisashi was just embarrassed at the massive scorch mark on the wall, knowing this room tested children's quirks, not adults.

Hisashi apologised to the doctor, "Forgot I could do that, to be honest. I haven't done that in years, Doc."