Enji couldn't help but grin on their way to Yuuei, his veins pumping excitement he hasn't felt in years, his mind full of memories that always seemed ancient but today resurfaced almost as if it was mere months ago. His Shouto is finally going to take part in the U.A. Sports Festival! The greatest fete for the future generation of heroes in Japan! Everybody's eyes would be on their tv sets, everybody's eyes would be on his Shouto winning it in his first year! Cause he had not a slightest doubt about it. He himself has won the Sports Festival every year during his times in the U.A., much to the irritation of some of his colleagues from the school. And Shouto was so much better than him! Always in control of his emotions! Perfect and powerful handle of his ice quirk! If only he'd finally reach his full potential that the double quirk gave him!
"Shouto, you won't win the festival if you'll stubbornly refuse to use the fire." He actually did not believe that. He trained his son very harshly from his earliest years and he had no doubts the boy had to be better than his classmates. He doubted any of them were as well prepared to become a hero as him, Enji made sure of that. It wasn't unlikely Shouto actually was capable of besting them only with ice. But still, egging the boy on would only help. And, of course, he'd lie if he said it did not anger him that his beloved son would not use the power received from the father who spent almost all his free time to train him and who loved him so much.
Shouto shot him his usual cold look. "I don't need your trash fire to win me anything." Enji's hand jerked, but he stopped himself. Still he felt anger. How dare he speak to his father like that! Years had to pass, but Enji finally understood, with therapist help, what he did to Rei and how he transferred all the guilt he felt for Touya unto blaming her and he did not blame her now for hating and fearing him. He could understand if his other children hated him – they remembered well what he did to their mother and he always was distant and cold to them, Touya and Shouto always on his mind. But Shouto? All his life was devoted to Shouto! He showed him his love the best he could! He made him what he was now! He was leading him to their shared dream, becoming a hero! He couldn't understand the boy's hatred. Especially after what his own mother did to him! And he was supposed to be the worse parent out of the two? Admittedly the training was harrowing, but this was necessary! And it would make Shouto a perfect hero! Wasn't this what they both wanted? He did not understand the boy and it pained and pain translated to anger, as usual. But he was doing his best to be calmer these years.
"No need to talk like that to your father," he grumbled. "And stop being foolishly pigheaded. You won't become better than me if you stick to ice only."
"I will."
"Bullshit. Even if you win this festival, the world outside is incomparably more dangerous and challenging! You'd better grow up by the time you enter it as a prohero."
Shouto said nothing to that and nothing to anything else Enji spoke to him until they reached Yuuei and he left to prepare himself. Enji grit his teeth. A part of him did not want the world to see his boy refuses to use his power. A part snapped back that world can go fuck itself, what matters is Shouto and Shouto only. And Shouto will be better, safer, only using his full potential, and this is what's important, not people whispering he's a shitty parent.
As a prohero with own agency he was offered one of the VIP seats, but he declined. He preferred to freely move about the stands. Finally the seats filled and he heard familiar, grating on his nerves, voice of Present Mic welcoming the spectators and without much delay presenting the hero classes. His eyes immediately jumped to the first group that spilled onto the grass. But before he spotted Shouto he saw a teenager with a bush of green hair walking in front of others. The large screens showed the class 1A closer and he saw the determination painted on that boy's face.
Izuku.
In all the excitement surrounding Shouto's first performance before the whole Japan he forgot about the other boy. Well, not really forgot, but it was definitely pushed into the back of his mind. He felt guilty, but before he could dwell on that he saw his Shouto too, entering the stadium.
Both of his boys were here. Though he couldn't really call Izuku his, could he? They had no connection, but genes. And the boy was trained by none other than All Might. Huh. Ironic. But in a way fitting. If his Shouto could beat Izuku that would certainly show he was capable of outshining All Might one day.
All classes finally gathered and the boy who got first place in entrance exams reached for the microphone to start his speech.
"I pledge I'll get first place."
And that was all.
It got an uproar as a response.
Enji couldn't help but grin. He liked the attitude and if the boy got first place in entries he probably could back it up with abilities.
888
The first part was the obstacle race. Easy. As expected Shouto almost immediately got in front of the crowd slowing down most contenders with his ice. The first hurdle were dangerous, huge robots, but he froze them too and timed it so that it would slow down other students even more, not letting them use his destruction of the machines to their advantage. Enji smiled. Smart. But he expected no less. Shouto would crush their hopes for the first place, he grinned to himself. His eyes searched for Izuku. He was in the middle group, not staying much behind, but not particularly close to the best students. He did not seem to be using his quirk. Instead he was fighting the robots with a piece of steel that had fallen off from one of the destroyed machines and doing his best to simply run forward, not using any fancy techniques his colleagues implemented. He actually looked pretty much quirkless like that.
Enji frowned, but if you really thought about it this made sense. As far as Midoriya said, the boy's quirk manifested not long before entering Yuuei. He had precious little time to train it. For all his life he was basically quirkless. Enji sighed. Well, that couldn't be helped. Maybe the boy would get to the podium next year, with more experience to his advantage.
The teenagers reached the next obstacle – the ropes canyon. Again Shouto rushed through it undeterred, using his well honed ability to slide on his ice. If he used his fire to fly, it would be less time consuming though, Enji thought with irritation. Izuku again was simply using all his fours to pass The Fall which was putting him at definite disadvantage to those with more useful here quirks or support students with appropriate equipment.
The race seemed to be pretty much settled until Shouto reached the minefield. He couldn't simply freeze his path and slide as usual since it was possible it could detonate explosives, not mentioning it would create the path to follow. Still it was pretty much the same for almost all of them, so he shouldn't lose the lead he gained. Unless someone from the very beginning planned to turn the tables during the last stage.
That someone appeared to be - Bakugou was his surname? - the boy who gave the 'speech' before. He's been using his quirk – explosions - to propel himself in the air. Smart and innovative. A quirk like that was flashy, impressive, but to actually turn it into something controllable and useful was not an easy feat. Enji knew that from his own experience. Bakugou has actually managed to reach Shouto in no time from his previous quite good position. Enji's fists tightened, but he grinned. Good! So far it was practically boring! 'Give my Shouto some challenge!'
But instead of securing his lead Bakugou actually started some sort of a scuffle with his son, barking something angrily. Teenagers. But that was good. With his quirk there was now a chance for Bakugou to win this stage, but apparently his emotions took over and he decided on a brawl rather than speeding forward.
...and then a huge explosion tore through the air. Everybody's eyes left the currently leading pair to follow a green headed figure who used the created immense propulsion to leave both Bakugou and his Shouto behind.
What. The. Hell.
The boy used another explosion that slowed two other boys down to be again pushed forward and before Enji realised he was the one to get the first place in this first stage, with Shouto second and Bakugou third, close behind the boy who did not use his quirk even once so far.
Endeavor blinked. His mind for a moment was blank as he struggled to realise that his Shouto, the perfect future hero, the boy he trained so harshly, was defeated by Izuku, who did not use his quirk even once.
And who was trained by All Might.
Of course.
His fists clenched.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself.
As his emotions subsided he started thinking more clearly about Izuku's approach to the challenge. Training was one thing, but if you attempted to be objective it was obvious it was the boy's own intelligence and quick thinking, not All Might's training, that granted him the first place. He sanely decided not to use his self-destructive quirk he hasn't honed yet. Instead he proved to be an extremely quick learner, using Bakugou's idea of employing explosions to fly through air and Shouto's early on idea to slow others down while securing his own lead.
Smart. Admittedly Inko always told him the boy was very intelligent.
He felt a prickle of pride. He might not have given much to this child, but maybe at least he gave him good genes. After all you had to be smart to become Number Two.
His Shouto looked unphased, as usual. Enji was always happy his son had much better reign over emotions than he ever had.
Bakugou seemed in pain? Probably his body, even if used to explosions, had its limits.
And Izuku? The big screens were showing him up close, since he was the winner and the boy was visibly trying not to cry.
His phone buzzed. There was a message from Midoriya. Of course she'd be watching. He realised he's smiling for some reason.
→ Me: Are you watching?!
M ← : Of course.
→ Me: They are AMAZING!
M ←: Of course.
One way or another, even if he was disappointed Shouto did not win the first stage, Enji was glad to see such an entertaining performance. After all, there was still a long way to the podium and he still had no doubts who's going to take first place.
'And it's not like it's not your child that has won now', whispered a tiny voice in his head, proud.
888
The next stage appeared to be a cavalry battle. So, the cooperation part of the festival. He'd lie if he said he didn't worry here. Shouto was great at many things, but not at social interaction, much like Enji himself. Cooperation would definitely not be his strong suit. Enji hoped that he'd simply attract people overawed with his skill that shall docilely obey his lead. Soon the teams formed and, as expected, a hunt for Izuku's headband started. Admittedly the boy has managed to create a strong team – there was this creative girl from support who gave Izuku some sort of a jetpack and a boy with the weirdest quirk that looked like a demon bird that was perfect for offence and defence. They were doing fine.
Or rather they would be doing fine if Shouto's team did not concentrate on them specifically. And he wouldn't blame his son – it was Izuku that had taken the first place from him before, after all. Shouto's team was even stronger than Izuku's; not only for Shouto, though that enough could make any team fearsome, but there was Tensei Iida's younger brother, who obviously have had a proper hero training at home, the girl who, like Shouto, got into U.A. by recommendation, and a boy with electricity quirk. This was definitely this stage's team of death. Shouto chose his allies wisely, Enji approved with a smile. Still, Midoriya's team was putting up great defence, he'd give that to them. The fight between the two teams was dramatic and provided Enji and the rest of the viewers one amazing spectacle. Still, it was obvious who had to win. He prepared himself mentally for that when something, that distracted him completely, happened. He'd swear for a moment, during the struggle between Izuku and Shouto, he saw Shouto's arm ignite. His heart stopped for a short eternity.
Shouto.
Shouto.
And then it was gone.
He barely registered Izuku also used his quirk that very moment.
Before he got an emotional grip the battle was over. Shouto got Izuku's band in the end and smartly exchanged the order of bands so that when Izuku fought it back in the most impressive manner he retrieved not the one he hoped for. However in the whole scuffle the demon boy managed to snatch Shouto's own band. All in all, it was Shouto's team that took the first place, as it should be, with, unsurprisingly, Bakugou's team in tow and Izuku's team in fourth place.
888
It was time for lunch break before one on one fights would begin. Endeavor headed for the restroom, feeling more emotionally tired than he expected when he was coming here with Shouto.
And of course, he just had to meet All Might. Just his luck.
"Yo! Long time no see!" The Number One greeted him with his eternally plastered to face smile. Oh, how he hated it. "Let's have tea, Endeavor."
"All Might," he growled, hoping against better judgement his tone of voice would put off the irritating man.
"We haven't seen each other since that press conference, ten years ago, right?"
Ah, yes, the one in which Enji as usually looked inferior in every aspect right beside the beloved by the public All Might.
"I've noticed you're here and thought I should say my greetings."
Enji was just one step from saying something scathing like 'So you did, begone now', but suddenly he saw Izuku entering the stadium with confidence, Izuku crying after he won the first stage, Izuku crying for some reason when it appeared one of his allies secured them place in final stage.
"That Midoriya, is he one of yours?"
To his surprise the trademark smile vanished for a second and he'd swore All Might looked nervous.
"Ah, he is one of my students here!"
"You both seem to have similar quirks."
Now he was certain All Might was nervous. What the hell? Was he a family to Inko? Why wouldn't she mention that? Admittedly no one knew anything about All Might's family, but it did make sense. The villains would target them relentlessly.
"Um, yes, uh, that's why I tutor him sometimes! I've heard his quirk developed quite late, so he has it tougher than the rest of the students!"
"Hmph."
All Might started to laugh nervously and made a pathetic attempt to change the topic.
"Your son, young Shouto, got amazing results not even using half of his power!"
Enji's fists clenched. He loathed these sugar coated bullets. 'Just tell me to my face everyone saw my son hates me and stop pretending you're so goddamn kind and innocent!'
And he just had been so pleased with how this tournament was going. But of course All Might had to come to remind him how fucked his family life was.
"It is because he is taught well, right?"
'Stop fucking playing with me.'
"What are you trying to say?" he said angrily.
"No, I am really asking you. Tell me what is the 'how to' to bring up the next generation."
Enji stared at him. He hesitated over a range of reactions to that, from hostile to pretending he plays along and finally decided on sincerity. At least that would make one of them.
"Are you mocking me, bastard?"
All Might looked honestly surprised and contrite. He raised his hands in a placatory gesture.
"No, no, I truly mean it." Since Enji obviously still wasn't going to buy that, he added. "I- I just barely started teaching here and- well, sometimes I think hero work is easier!" He laughed nervously.
Enji was still staring at him trying to judge other man's honesty. All Might sighed. "You always assume people are against you, eh? I've noticed that before, Endeavor."
"This is no concern of yours."
All Might gave him a longer look and shook his head almost imperceptibly.
"Well, it was nice seeing you again, Endeavor. I'm honoured to be one of Shouto's teachers. See you in the field, maybe." He turned away and Enji heard himself saying, "The next generation you want to bring up has to know what they're facing. You lie to them with your smiling face. What they're gonna deal with is horrible and cruel and evil and debilitating. They should face it with anger, not smile."
All Might looked him in the eyes for some minutes. Did he look sorry for Enji? He'd better not be, cause Enji would definitely punch him. "I'll think about your words," he finally said and gave him a short wave as he left.
Enji snorted, mostly to make himself feel better.
888
The roster was announced after the break. The first match was Izuku against a boy called Hitoshi Shinsou. Endeavor tried to recall the face and frowned. Wasn't this the one who caused a couple of other students to withdraw from the next stage? He remembered he had found this weird; the boy had seemed to be a perfect leader as far as he noticed; people gladly allied themselves with him and listened to his orders.
Shouto was matched against Hanta Sero, the student able to create tapes out of his body. Very useful quirk for capturing villains but no match for his Shouto.
Soon Izuku and Shinsou were entering the arena to the great cheering of the whole stadium and to maddening screams of Present Mic; after all this was the part everyone awaited most. Izuku seemed nervous, Enji noticed with a frown, but apparently tried to collect himself. Other boy started calmly speaking to him, though of course you couldn't hear a word from the stands. Enji would not be surprised if he was trying to rile up his opponent, classic technique making the path to the victory easier. And, to Enji's irritation, it did work on Izuku. Soon after the match started he rushed in Shinsou's direction, anger on his face...
...and then he stopped.
And turned around.
And started to make his way towards the lines marking the fighting arena.
'Some sort of brainwashing quirk!', realised Enji with frustration. Well, that made for a disappointingly short match. It would be a good lesson for Izuku, about all sorts of quirks and dangers he needs to be prepared to face in the future, but still Enji would lie if he said he wasn't annoyed. Izuku was so smart, he got so far, and, well, he was his son. But expecting them both on podium would prob-
Then Izuku flicked his fingers.
Enji stared as the air practically exploded from the created wind pressure.
Izuku broke away from the power of Shinsou's quirk and rushed back towards his opponent.
Enji's heart swelled. He couldn't care now, he realised, whether the boy was trained by All Might or not, he wanted him to win. He deserved to win, Enji felt it in his heart. He again saw the boy crying after he got first place in the race.
Shinsou did his best to fight Izuku back, but the boy was stronger and smarter. Soon Shinsou was out of bounds.
Enji grinned and regretted he couldn't shout Izuku's name aloud, like his classmates did.
888
Being Number Two hero and also being known for anger management issues had its perks. Not many would dare to stop Endeavor, the Flame Hero, from sneaking around to meet with his son before his match. He still hoped he could persuade Shouto to use his fire. The matches from now on would be increasingly difficult. Bakugou was not an opponent to look down upon and Izuku also proved his worthiness in Japan's eyes. And, even if all Enji would be able to do was anger Shouto, then that was good too. He admired Shouto's control over his emotions, but in a contest like that a little fire, in addition to abilities, was sometimes needed to grab the victory.
He intercepted his son on his way to his fight.
"You're in my way," Shouto said coldly.
"You're acting disgracefully, Shouto. If you used the power in your left side, you most likely would've had an overwhelming victory in the obstacle course and the cavalry battle."
Shouto just passed him, falling back to his favourite strategy to deal with Enji. Ignoring him. He hated it most. Maybe this made him say "Stop this childish rebellion already. You have a duty to surpass All Might." 'For me. For Touya. For yourself.' "Do you understand? You are different than your siblings. You are the greatest masterpiece!" 'Unlike me.'
Shouto's voice seethed. "Is that all you can say, bastard? My win will come only from mother's power! I won't use your power to fight!" There was fury in the boy's voice now.
"Even if that works for now, you'll soon reach the limit," he warned Shouto. No response came as his son entered the arena.
Enji stayed near the entrance. He could see his Shouto much better from down here. The fury he ignited in the boy was visible on his face. Good. He hoped the fire would stay alit for next, much more difficult battles.
The Sero boy was quick, Enji had to give that to him. He knew that was his best strategy against an overwhelmingly more powerful opponent. He managed to wrap his tapes around Shouto and immediately pulled him towards the outside of the ring, but before he could succeed Shouto used his ice.
Enji gazed transfixed as his son's ice rose and rose and rose towards the sky, engulfing Sero and half of the arena, laying shadow on the stands, making the stadium tremble as the huge crystals pushed against the walls and froze the earth metres deep, incomparable to anything, ominous beauty in so much power. The peak of the sparkling in sun rays mountain was invisible to Enji's eyes.
He's never seen something like that.
He never knew Shouto had that much power in him.
The boy never showed him.
He decided to do it now.
Shouto.
888
The first round of fights was enjoyable. Students who got this far were obviously determined and talented. It was a pleasure to watch and Enji already had his eyes on some of them, if they ever wanted to become his future sidekicks. The girl called Uraraka especially impressed him with her strategy very aptly adjusted to her opponent's quirk, with her perseverance, finally with her complete lack of fear of pain. She could hardly have a body adjusted to dealing with explosions after all. And wasn't she the girl who was on Izuku's team before? His boy was smart, knew who to choose.
When the first round was finally over Enji looked back at the roster.
The match opening the second-round was Todoroki Shouto vs Midoriya Izuku.
888
Until the very last moment Enji was torn. Would it be seen as normal, natural to want to meet his son's opponent before his battle? Wouldn't it be weird that very Endeavor, that Endeavor whose praise was said to be rarer than the eclipse (he's overheard that in his agency, couldn't say they were wrong) would come to some teenager to offer constructive criticism and some encouragement? Wouldn't it raise questions?
But these worries were superficial and Enji knew what really was at the core of his nervousness. His son was fifteen and it was Enji's first chance to speak with him. He has never before even wanted that. That was how Midoriya decided things would be better and he was grateful. Seeing his own family fall apart, more than it was now, was something he dreaded.
But still... seeing with his very own eyes as the boy fought with all he had, was going practically head to head with his beloved Shouto, seeing him crying when he won, made Enji's emotions swirl in his mind and led him to the vicinity of preparation rooms and entrances to the arena before he even made a fully conscious decision to be there. He was just in the process of putting the chaotic, emotional thoughts in his head right and preparing what he should say when he stumbled upon Izuku.
The boy practically jumped in surprise.
"Endeavor!" he stared at him and Enji's mind went blank. His therapist subtly suggested that he lets his emotions overpower him, at least when it came to personal matters. He wasn't wrong, thought Enji as he struggled to get his grip.
He saw Izuku on the arena before, but now, when they stood opposite each other it struck him especially hard that he indeed did not look like Enji at all – green hair, big green eyes suggesting some European or American blood among Midoriya's ancestors, round face, rather short for his age. Only maybe the hair bore some resemblance – unruly, flowing in all directions; Enji always hated that and cut it short. Somehow it suited Izuku though.
"Endeavor!" repeated Izuku, looking at him exactly like every other stranger who'd ever met Enji – with trepidation. "Why are you here?!"
Enji was quiet as the situation truly hit him – he was talking with his son. Son. The other child. The child he managed not to fuck up, mainly because he wasn't there.
Izuku looked more and more nervous and guarded with every passing second.
"You're the boy who got so far to fight my Shouto," he finally managed to construct a hopefully unsuspiciously sounding sentence.
"Y-yes..." Izuku looked even more wary now. Did he think Enji came here to threaten him? To handicap him emotionally before the match? He needed to dispel that.
"You've been doing great so far. I am looking forward to seeing you two fight. I am sure you won't be an easy opponent to beat."
The alarm turned into disbelievement now; the boy's emotions were an open book. So unlike his Shouto. More like him? He shrugged the thought. The boy wasn't like him. Better not be like him.
"Ah, thank you, I, uh, am doing my best." and now he looked...embarrassed? He definitely got slightly pink. Something warm crept into Enji's heart, so he decided to follow through.
"You've got a wonderful quirk. Creating so much wind pressure just by flicking your fingers... Talking about power alone, you can compare to All Might."
To Enji's unpleasant surprise Izuku reverted to nervous and uncomfortable. Did he inadvertently say something wrong? He was so good at that.
"Wh-what are you trying to say?" He suddenly rushed by him. "I have to go now."
Damn. What did he say wrong? He never knew these things.
"I am sure you'll be a great hero one day," he tried again without much hope.
Izuku stopped in his tracks. He did not turn around, but just stood there. Did he anger the boy? Did he remind him of something? Then Midoriya's words came back to him 'He is bullied, because of his quirklessness.' Oh. The boy probably had been hearing all his life he can't be a hero. His heart tightened. He knew the feeling. Now he really felt bad he hadn't been more supportive when Inko told him about the situation. But he hadn't known the boy would really mean it, that these weren't just childish dreams. That he'd be so determined.
'Just like somebody else here, all those years ago', whispered the tiniest voice in his mind. A memory flashed ("He burned our house down! This is a devil's quirk! He's gonna be a villain!"). He shrugged it away, like a million times before.
Izuku turned back. There was something weird in his look and Enji couldn't decipher it this time. Then the boy smiled, to his surprise. It wasn't the biggest smile, but his face immediately radiated warmth and benevolence that seemed to be able to put anyone at ease. Even eternally chagrined and angry Enji. Midoriya also had something like that about her.
"Thank you," the boy simply said, the smile still on his face. And then it faded. "I am sure Todoroki-kun-" -kun? "-will also be a great hero." Then the boy looked straight in his eyes. "If he'll be able to use both of his quirks," he said in a stern tone.
Enji paled. So it was that obvious, wasn't it? They saw Shouto not using fire and they all thought the same. And he was just the same to Izuku as he was to all of them; after all why shouldn't he be? He suddenly stupidly wanted Izuku to know a little more, just the tiniest bit. It was his Izuku after all, even if not really his.
"I know my Shouto will be a great hero. No one waits more impatiently for to the day he shall light his fire than me," he said with some effort, feeling his fists clenching with the pain burning again in his mind, a pain that never really stopped, that was always there, in a part of his heart reserved for his family. "Shouto shall surpass All Might one day."
Izuku's eyes narrowed. All Might was probably his beloved mentor, after all. "Shouto is not you," he suddenly said and left.
Enji had no idea what the boy meant.
But as socially inept as he was, he realised one thing. Shouto seemed to have made a friend.
888
Enji had many dreams in his life. Of Shouto taking up the hero career. Of Shouto being the best student in U.A.. Of Shouto winning the Sports Festival. Of Shouto working seamlessly with him in his agency. Of Shouto taking over his agency. Of Shouto becoming Number One. He barely remembered times when his dreams were about himself, with the only exception of dreaming to become loved by his children. But this dream seemed far less realistic than what Shouto could achieve.
Never in any of his dreams though it ever crossed his mind he would be seeing this scene.
Two of his sons standing vis-a-vis during the famous Yuuei Sports Festival fighting for the right to enter the semi-finals. One whom he had been training for more than a decade pouring all his love ('And trauma, and fears, and pain, and guilt' whispered the inseparable voice) into it and who was given two great quirks; and one who grew up without him, without any quirk, trained by a stranger who had seen potential in him.
He never thought the day would come he couldn't wholeheartedly cheer only for his Shouto.
His phone buzzed. It was Midoriya.
→ Me: OMG
He supposed that this description of the situation wasn't all that off the mark.
→ Me: If your son's gonna seriously harm Izuku, you're dead.
He couldn't help but grin.
M ←: Shouldn't you say something like 'My son's going to kick your son's ass', though?
→ Me: We don't use vocabulary like that in this household.
He snorted goodnaturedly.
Present Mic commenced the match.
Shouto wisely immediately made sure to keep the distance using his long range attack. And that was all he was able to succeed in, since Midoriya immediately destroyed the ice. Along with his finger.
Another ice attack from Shouto and another finger swollen and purple.
Another ice attack and exactly the same reply.
Time seemed to slow down as Enji watched Shouto attack again and again and Izuku breaking bone after bone in his hands defending from the attacks.
That couldn't be the right way to use his quirk. That couldn't be the right way to fight. But what else could he do against a powerful ice quirk user? Without any equipment? Enji did not train Shouto to be easy to defeat.
Blood started to drip from Izuku's right hand. Right hand.
What the hell was All Might thinking? What was he putting into Izuku's head? Probably, like Enji with Shouto, he wanted the boy to win, but should it be at the cost of that much self destruction? Enji's training with Shouto was beyond harsh, but he had never harmed the boy permanently.
Another, much smarter attack, this time in an attempt to immobilise Izuku and shorten the distance, and this time counter was nothing comparable to the previous ones. When the dust and ice fell down Enji could see why. Izuku's whole left arm was now broken.
Enji realised suddenly he's starting to have his eyes only for Izuku. The boy was breaking bone after bone to win, the determination in his eyes burning brighter than anything he's ever seen in his Shouto, the desperate need to win against all the odds – the overwhelmingly more powerful opponent, terrible, uncooperative quirk, the past in which he probably had heard all the time he wouldn't be a hero. He saw the ardent determination to reach the goal no matter the cost, no matter the sacrifice. Enji was watching Izuku transfixed and now he started to see it, the resemblance. He no longer saw Touya in this self destruction, no, this was something else. This boy was smart and determined and he simply knew there was no other way to advance, not against Shouto. This was something else. He wasn't like Touya. He was like someone else. Someone else who had done everything he could to win the Sports Festival, so many years ago, to become a hero, to become the... in the end Number Two.
And he saw the screaming contrast between both boys – one, that would go so far to climb up and another, who would persistently refuse to use the fact he was gifted with two powerful quirks.
There was a pause in fighting. Izuku was saying something angrily. Whatever he said, it angered Shouto too, who again rushed to turn this into a close distance fight. Not a stupid idea since Izuku had broken bones in both of his hands.
That did not seem to stop him.
A powerful hit, punch launched by a broken-fingered fist, sent Shouto metres away.
Enji's heart thundered as all reality seemed to shrink only to this arena, only to this ring, only to that one, so desperately fighting boy.
Shouto's movements and ice attacks were much slower now, the cold getting to his body. But he still wouldn't use Enji's fire. He clenched his fists. That was a spit in the face of the boy who fought with such perseverance, with such deeply carved in his eyes resolution.
"SHOUTO!" he heard himself shouting.
Shouto's eyes darted towards him, but Izuku shouted something that Enji was sure sounded like "Don't look elsewhere!"
The green-headed boy rushed towards Shouto again and the frantic, dramatic fight continued; Shouto using ice, Izuku going as far as messing even his face in order to create a wind pressure hit. They again started to argue and he was sure he heard Izuku shouting "I WANT TO BECOME A GREAT HERO!" at something Shouto had said and soon Shouto again landed on the ground, Izuku's punch sending him away. He was winded now, the frostbite, the exhaustion from overusing his quirk, finally the hits of such grim power that was Izuku's quirk. He stood up with effort.
And then Izuku screamed "ISN'T THIS POWER YOURS?!"
There was a pause.
And then Shouto's left side burst with fire.
Enji's eyes widened.
The boys stood like that for seconds, words exchanged he couldn't hear and then he saw Shouto creating the immense amount of ice and intensifying his untrained fire, Izuku's quirk tearing the clothes on one of his legs while he flew through air, crossing the distance in one unnaturally powerful jump...
...and then the enormous explosion destroyed the whole ring and sent debris onto the seats.
If it wasn't for Cementoss the boys would be dead. Maybe Nezu did choose his staff well after all.
Enji closed his eyes.
When he opened them his Shouto was standing in the middle of rubble. Izuku was laying against the wall of the stadium, unconscious. Enji did not believe in gods, but at that very moment he prayed the grim quirk that enhanced Izuku's body would somehow save him from lasting damage.
It was only when Izuku was taken away that he tore his eyes back to Shouto.
His son was watching him, but for the first time in probably ever there was something other than grim hatred in his eyes when he looked at his father. He looked... bemused?
Enji realised that in his worry for Izuku he completely forgot to cheer his son's win.
And then it fully hit him. His beloved son used his fire to win.
Shouto.
Shouto.
"SHOUTO!" he shouted, ignoring Present Mic's comment on overly fond parents.
Shouto just frowned with distaste, as usual, and headed to one of the entrances. Enji immediately rushed to speak with him, ignoring his buzzing phone.
His Shouto used fire! He finally accepted both of his quirks!
888
"You are not telling me anymore that I'm in your way, right?" he asked, grinning, pride swelling in his chest. 'I was right all along that you should use fire to win, right?' he thought smugly. "When it comes to controlling your left side, you're just letting it all out, making it dangerous." He again saw Izuku lying unconscious by the wall of the stadium. "But you've abandoned your childish tantrum and finally become a perfect version of me! After you graduate, come work for me! I'll lead you down the path of the mighty!" He felt happiness filling him to the brink.
Shouto frowned. "It's not like it's something I could throw away," he said looking at his left hand. "It's not something easily reversed," he added, his eyes now distant, as he was talking more to himself than to Enji. "It's just... at that moment... for a second... I forgot about you."
Enji's heart froze.
No.
No.
Shouto!
"Is it good or bad... is it right... I'll have to consider," he added quietly as he passed Enji.
No! Enji felt frigid terror drowning his mind.
No! He watched his son walking away and felt as if it was the beginning of Shouto disappearing from his life entirely. He wanted the boy to love him, but if he couldn't, then even anger was good, even disdain was better than ceasing from his son's mind completely. Cause first it would be from his heart and then it would be from his life.
Shouto.
And he really thought that the fiery display might mean a step towards the acceptance of what Shouto's father was doing for the boy all his life.
His phone started to vibrate again. He uttered a chain of quiet curses. It really wasn't the time. But it's not like heroes ever had time that was truly only theirs.
It was Midoriya.
He picked up reluctantly, not knowing what to expect.
She was quiet for a few minutes. Then finally she said in a trembling voice, "This... this isn't normal, is it?"
He said nothing, unsure how to reply.
"He broke almost all his limbs, Enji." It was years since she had called him by his first name. "Tell me... am I supposed to be terrified? Is he... is he going to kill himself as a prohero?"
"No," he said firmly. "He'll be fine."
"How do you know?"
"Izuku is smart. He only used his quirk when he had to. The boy is young and very much wanted to win this festival and I'm sure he had plenty of reasons to, but I'm certain he will be a levelheaded hero when he comes out of the teenager phase and he won't endanger himself unnecessary. I'm sure of it." He himself after all was already in his forties and still alive, despite being such an emotional, desperate teenager once.
"Do you really think so?"
"I do."
There was a pause and then she said in a clearly hesitant voice, "Um, I know it's asking for much, and you can really say no, I'll get it, you have all the right and reasons to, but..."
He sighed. "Just say it."
"Can you check on him? Can you check the damage yourself? Can you give him your advice as a professional hero, as the Number Two?"
888
"There is going to be-" Recovery Girl paused as she realised it had been Endeavor knocking on the infirmary door. Her frown softened. "Enji-kun."
She was probably the only person in the whole world now left calling him by his first name. He didn't mind. A memory drifted into his mind, one of few that made his heart warmer.
(A small, gentle hand on his shoulder. "Is everything okay at home, Enji-kun?" The voice was soft, kind, considerate. No one ever has asked him that before. No one. Of course he answered that everything was good. He hated his mother, he often thought he wanted her dead, but now that someone asked him about home he was terrified. What if they take her and she commits suicide like she often had been warning him? He hated her, but the thought she might kill herself because of him horrified him. "Are you sure, Enji?" The compassionate smile, the gentle eyes. "Yes, it is really okay." And, after all, it has become better since he entered U.A. "Remember, Enji, you can always come to me. I will help you. It will be alright. You're a good kid." You're a good kid. He never came for help. But he always remembered.)
"Your Shouto isn't here, Enji-kun." She smiled at him genuinely.
"Ah, I just wanted to check up on Midoriya...kun."
Her brows rose. She was kind, but she wasn't naive. She surely knew, like everyone, what reputation he had, even if she remembered him as a quiet, insecure, abused teenager.
"It is in the fight with my Shouto he sustained quite a huge deal of damage. If Shouto used his fire sooner, the match would have ended quickly and without Midoriya risking the lasting nerve impairment." A shot in the dark intended to check Recovery Girl's reaction. "It is... my fault." No need to deny something apparently obvious to everyone.
She sighed.
No.
"I'm going to perform a surgery now. The damage won't be crippling, but probably he won't have 100% mobility anymore."
He paled. She watched him carefully and her smile softened.
"Enji-kun, you know me. He has the best care and he will be fine."
"Can I still see him?"
Her eyes were kind, but penetrating.
"Of course, but make it quick, please, Enji-kun."
Izuku was lying on his bed and staring at him frowning slightly, as if Enji was some puzzle to solve. He must have heard the conversation with Recovery Girl.
At his bedside sat a sickly looking, rather emaciated tall man with blond hair that most likely had not seen a barber for a long time. He did not recognize him as any of the teachers, but there, of course, was more than only them to U.A.'s staff. Maybe the man was a doctor or some sort of a counsellor.
"Hajimemashite," he said politely.
"Ah, hajimemashite," answered the man. Enji frowned. There was something familiar about him. Something about his voice and bright blue eyes, the colour of the hair and shape of the face. Then it clicked.
"You're All Might's family?"
The man started to cough violently which Enji had taken at first as a pathetic example of avoiding the answer, but then he saw blood on the handkerchief. He frowned. The other man noticed it and he waved his hand in a dismissive manner. "Just an old injury inflicted by a villain. I'm lucky to be alive," he explained when the fit passed.
"You were unlucky to have been protected by a hero not professional enough."
The man gave him a weird look and then he replied, "It was All Might." He laughed weakly, "I think he did his best."
Enji shut up to that. All Might would indeed do the best that was possible.
"This is Yagi Toshinori," said Recovery Girl, "He works here now as one of Nezu's advisors. He's also a former secretary and friend to All Might. It was you, Yagi-san, who introduced Izuku to All Might, right?"
Recovery Girl apparently still knew everything going on here. Nothing changed.
"Ah, yes," admitted Yagi rather nervously. He wouldn't blame him, everyone was nervous around Endeavor. Especially All Might's fans and friends.
That turned his attention back to Izuku. His arms, as expected, looked horrible. The leg was broken too, of course.
He weighed his words carefully. He decided against ridiculous asking how the boy was feeling. He had almost all his limbs broken, it was obvious how he could possibly feel. "You fought well, " he said instead. "Your determination was laudable. Was going so far really necessary however, if you knew you couldn't win against my Shouto?"
Izuku frowned at this. He liked that.
"You don't know that until you lose. Besides, you can't make a good hero if you give up. If that were a villain should I have retreated?"
"Actually sometimes yes?"
Izuku's eyes bore into him. "Would you?" Ah, a little smart-ass.
Enji sighed. Yagi gave him a weird look. Oh, right, always tough, rough and angry Endeavor sighing, impossible!
"Just keep in mind that a dead hero is no help to anyone anymore."
"I know," murmured the kid a little dejectedly. Yagi looked guilty for some reason. Was he the one pushing Izuku to go all the way in his fight against Shouto? Were they friends?
"If your quirk is difficult to harness and self-destructive, concentrate on non-quirk solutions. You've won the first stage without using your quirk at all and you had competed with many powerful quirk users. It is possible to achieve your dream basing on your intelligence and training your body's speed and natural strength."
"Are you seriously saying someone quirkless could become a hero?" asked Izuku disbelievingly.
Endeavor sighed again. Better record that, All Might's friend, cause nobody's going to believe your story.
"I have a fire quirk. How often do you think I fight in a fireproof scenery? It is better to not use my quirk than to use it, actually."
Izuku was now watching him with wide eyes.
"You're a very smart and determined kid, I'm sure you'd be a great hero, even quirkless."
The boy stared and stared and suddenly his face all scrunched up and his eyes filled with tears to the brink, to Enji's horror. But Yagi again waved lightly. "It's okay," he chuckled. "He does that a lot," as the boy has actually really started to cry.
Enji decided that was far beyond his range of capabilities and shot a wordless cry of help towards Recovery Girl. She grinned just like Yagi. "Just give him a minute. His secondary quirk is the infinite production of tears."
Izuku laughed through tears as he visibly tried to compose himself.
"Thank you, Endeavor-san," he finally said, still a little choked. Enji noticed with irritation Yagi was gazing at him with some sort of a kind, soft look that was completely inappropriate in his not exactly humble opinion.
"If you wish, you're welcome to do the internship at my agency."
Izuku's eyes widened even more.
Yagi coughed. "I think young Midoriya-" 'Young Midoriya'? The guy is obviously so obsessed with All Might he even copies his ridiculous way of speaking. "-should think it through before giving you the final answer. I'm pretty sure All Might has an offer for him from the hero with a very similar quirk to his."
Of course.
"Thank you," smiled Izuku with that bright, amiable smile that warmed even Enji's heart.
That left one thing.
"Why did you encourage Shouto to use the fire?" Though he was sure he had known the answer already.
Izuku was watching him carefully for some seconds and then replied, "We all are doing our best, pushing our limits to win. He shouldn't fight against us without using his full potential."
Enji's eyes softened.
888
The atmosphere during the dinner was as unpleasant and cold as usual.
Enji couldn't understand why Shouto had not used his fire in the final match, which he would have undoubtedly won that way and couldn't stop himself on their way home from trying to talk to the boy about it. He got silent treatment again and this only made things worse, cause Enji would stand anything but that. So he bothered and bothered his son until finally the argument broke and they arrived at home barking at each other. In Enji's books it was still better than the muteness from before; at least when Shouto was arguing with him he could have a peek into what was inside his head, and besides it was good for his son to let his emotions out, right?
And then another argument ensued when Shouto refused to take part in the celebratory dinner, saying Enji obviously had meant this to be a celebration of his first place and that there is obviously nothing to celebrate in his father's eyes now.
In the end, as usual, it was Fuyumi that dragged the both boys back to the table and he had no doubts they agreed only because they've kept in mind she spent two days preparing this little feast.
He tried to start some non antagonising conversation about the festival while they've been eating, but he only got glares from his sons, so he soon shut up and let Fuyumi do the improving of the mood. And they indeed did respond to Fuyumi's questions, praises and funny observations of a layman. It was hard to keep from interjecting his perspective as a seasoned professional hero and someone who actually won the event multiple times, but he managed to keep his mouth shut in exchange for being able to listen to his children talk more or less (less rather than more, probably) freely. They have discussed Shouto's performance (only praises from Natsuo and Fuyumi, and some additional glaring in his direction), then they went to more interesting students. They have spent some time wondering about the nature of Tokoyami's quirk, since they have never seen anything like that before; then they've started commenting on Bakugou's strategies and frowned some over the fact he got his medal while being constrained publicly.
And then, of course, they finally reached Izuku. They all were unsurprisingly impressed with his performance and worried about the damage he dealt to himself. Shouto went even more untalkative than usual here though, frowning, his eyes concentrated on one point, unseeing, as he pondered something. Probably thinking of what Izuku shouted at him back then. 'ISN'T THIS POWER YOURS?!' His heart warmed at the thought of his other child. Izuku was truly something else. When there was a pause in conversation Shouto finally revealed what was on his mind "But I don't understand why no one else doesn't see the resemblance."
Enji froze and then got back to behaving naturally, scolding himself internally. Izuku looked nothing like him after all, he was being ridiculous now to get nervous.
"What do you mean?" asked Fuyumi curiously.
Shouto chewed on what he was about to say for a moment.
"I mean, he obviously is secret love child-"
Enji's heart stopped.
"-of All Might's."
Enji choked on his fucking soba.