Being a father was not something I was planning for in the grand scheme of my life. I thought (knew) that caring for children was utimately a chore that I had little to no interest in participating in.

Ironically, I ended up as a teacher.

Ironically, I ended up as a parent.

Assuring safety, provision in food, clothes, emotional tenderness and maitenence, proper avenues of communication, clarity on expectations of chores and academic excellence were all now a norm in my daily routine after Sami turned about six.

Healthcare was covered, as far as cost was concerned, by her grandmother, even though it didn't need to be anymore. U.A. covered all medical expenses for the heroes that worked at the school and their families, and even if U.A. didn't, the UHC (Underground Heroe's Comission) did.

It wasn't a big enough priority for me to go out of my way and fix it, however. It would eventually, when it would be used as an excuse for the family to be involved in Samiko's life and even take credit for it when she made something of herself.

But before then, us being here was fine.

I know I lucked out with getting Samiko as a child, who could arguable be the easiest child to parent. She's incredibl self-reliant, self-sufficient, responsible, respectful, clear in her intentions, physically unble to tell a lie. As far as I know, she's never had to, and I hope to keep things that way for a while, and it ultimately makes things a hell of a lot easier for me in the long run.

I glanced at the clock. Samiko should be home fairly soon...I'm surprised she hasn't called or texted yet. Maybe she forgot.

To my surprise, my phone rang, and I stopped whatever I was doing

It was...Samiko's school?

I closed my eyes, just imagining what they had to say. Praying that everything was fine and she was showing excellent progress.

I was naiive to think that such a simple call would be what I got.

I answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Hello. Is this Aizawa-San?"

"Yes."

"Aizawa-San, this is Principal Nato from-"

"My daughter's school, yes I know who you are," I interrupted. Introductions when you already know someone are unnecessary. "Is there a reason why you are calling?"

"Why, yes..."

.o0o.

"A fight?"

"Yes," I said to Nezu, "I don't know the full story, but apparently, Samiko has injured someone. I am requesting permission to head down to her school and figure out what happened-if you don't mind, Nezu-Sama."

"Hm..." He sipped his tea. "This seems out of character for Sami-Chan, wouldn't you say?"

"It is. That's why I need to head down and see what happened. People have a habit of over exaggerating."

"Samiko isn't foolish-her reason was likely just... Alright. You may go."

I bowed. "Thank you."

"Oh, one more thing."

I looked at him again.

"Make sure she is disciplined properly-if necessary, that is."

.o0o.

Samiko P.O.V.

I was escorted to the nurse's office, where Aoki was already laying down, dramatically clutching an ice pack to his head, anoter one resting atop the blanket over his stomach. He looked so foolish.

He looked up at me.

"Nurse," he cried, "I don't want to be around her. It makes my stomach throb."

The nurse, whose back was turned to him, gave the administrator and me a look that said it all.

"I'm sure if you close your eyes, you won't see her and you'll be fine."

"It makes me uncomfortable to be seen like this," he dramaticised.

The nurse stood up and pulled the curtain around his bed, then returned to typing on her computer.

Hanako-San (that's the administrator with me) bent down and whispered to me, "We need to patch you up a bit, would you like to lay down for a while?"

Although behind the curtain, Aoki continued to vocalize his agony. I figured I didn't want to be stuck listening to that.

"I don't need to," I said back. "I'd rather...not."

"I'll take you to the counselors office and get you a cot to lay down on if you have to. Sorry you had to walk all this way."

"I understand," I said sympathetically.

We walked to the counselor's office-a woman who I didn't mind all too much-and she was more than willing to help us out. She got the first aid kit and and treated me there. Gave me an ice pack for my stomach while she put gause on my lip, then let me lay down while the prinicpal and head of discipline got the story from the adults.

After a while, we were called into the office. Hanako-San escorted me there and told me where to sit as Asmit came in as well. The Principal was with him.

"Why don't you sit here while you wait for your parents, dear?" she said. "Thank you so much. Are you feeling okay? Just make sure you take care of those broken ribs when you get home. You don't want to get even more hurt now."

Wow. Talk about bias.

However, I was proud of myself for being able to break his ribs from a single kick. Dad would be proud under different circumstances, definitely. I was looking down, so my smile was hidden from view.

His parents showed up within minutes, his mother doting on him immediately. His father seemed angry, if not indifferent.

That's why he was so cocky. Everyone told him he was perfect. So he thought he was. He never had to take responsibility for anything. So he didn't. His father-who knew what happened back at home, but it seemed his father was strict, if not distant.

It actually explained a lot.

"Who did this to you? Who would dare hurt my precious boy like this?" She cooed endlessly.

"Tell me, Asmit," His father chimed in, "Where's the boy who did this."

I had to bite my already swelling lip to stop myself from laughing. What boy? I thought this was a catfight.

I bit my knuckle at my internal monologue. It took so much self-control to keep myself from laughing, but I did it.

When the parents finally realized I was the person to be blamed for the injuries, I could feel his mother's eyes on me.

"Her?" she asked in disbelief. "She did this to you?"

Asmit said nothing, but the silence seemed to confirm the suspicion.

"That's what happens when you don't raise your girls how they ought to be raised," Asmit's father-Aoki-San-spoke up. I wasn't sure where he was going with this, but frankly, I was worried that it would be something that I wouldn't like. He continued, "To live at home and care for the household."

I clenched my fists against my skirt, my fingernails digging into the flesh of my palm even through the fabric of my skirt.

Don't show emotion. Don't do something you're going to regret. Wait for Dad. He'll handle it.

"What is the meaning of this?"

I looked up in anticipation at my father's voice in the doorway. It was like a million pounds were taken off of my shoulders.

"Daddy...?" I said quietly.

He walked in like he owned the place, glancing at the others in the room and nodding to them respectfully before kneeling in front of me.

"Are you okay?" He asked me, brushing my hair out of my face and inspecting the forming bruise on my eye.

"Yeah," I said just as quietly. I felt the eyes of the family next to us on us, watching our exchange in disdain. "Just a little sore."

"That's good." He glanced back to the other family, then to the principal, standing at full height. "What happened here?" He demanded.

Principal Nato gestured to the seat next to me, since the other family was already seated. "Please, let's introduce ourselves to each other."

It was normal. Introducing the parents to one another so they can have a sense of respect before it all goes to hell.

They did, and the principal gestured for him to sit.

"I'll stand, thanks," Dad said sternly, crossing his arms over his chest.

I stiffened. Someone was in for it today. And I wasn't entirely convinced it wasn't me.

"Just before free hour, Samiko and Asmit were seen in the field fist fighting. The administrators managed to catch it before too much damage could be done, but it is very clear that both students have injured each other. Such violent behavior is strictly against policy and a clear violation of the rules."

"Understandable," my father said, "And I am prepared to discuss various consequences, but before we proceed, I must know what happened."

Oh, shi-

"Surely, it was in self-defense," Asmit's mother spoke up to defend her son, "He would never hit anyone, much less a girl."

"And yet we are still here having this conversation, Aoki-San."

Yeah. I'm so grounded.

"But, but that's just not like him! He would never-" she said desperately before she was cut off by the Principal of all people.

"That's what every parent says, Aoki-San, yet here we are. Aizawa-San," she turned to my father. ''Your daughter is injured, but she has broken two of Asmit-Kun's ribs, and broke his nose. That is far more severe than what injuries were inflicted on Samiko."

I could feel my father fuming behind me. That was an...incorrect answer, if that's how you put it.

"I thought we were discussing how the fight began," he said calmly, "Not debating which of our children is clearly more caable of defending themselves."

"Aizawa," Aiko-San-the father-spoke up, "You don't even know what happened. That girl of yours attacked him. Have you no shame to punish her for such unladylike actions?"

"It's almost as if that's what I've been saying the whole time," he deadpanned. He went quiet for a beat longer than I thought he would. "Samiko."

I almost flinched.

"Will you tell us all what actually happened? If what they say is true, it is very out of character, for even you."

"Yes, I hit him first," I confessed quietly. Asmit's mother gasped.

"See?" His father spoke up, pointing an accusing finger at me. "She admits to it!"

"Why did you hit him first?" My father asked, once again ignoring Asmit's father.

"I was on my way to the bus stop after class, and he approached me before I could make it to the fence. He began taunting me, and eventually became upset when I didn't react. I tried to walk away, and he..." I went quiet, but was shocked that everyone else stayed quiet too. "He grabbed my arm, and I said 'Don't touch me.' He kept grabbing my arms and I felt like I couldn't escape...so I punched him in the nose."

The room was quiet for one split-second longer than would be believable on Asmit's part. "L-Liar! I didn't do any of that!"

I clenched my jaw. I hated liars, but I really hated liars that were stupid enough to accuse me, whose side-effect of my quirk is truth-telling, of lying. It infuriated me.

But my Dad was there. And for now, he was quiet.

"Well, then," he said gently to the kid, "What did happen?"

"She-she flipped it! Yeah, I followed her outside when I should have been in class, but she got upset and grabbed me! I told her to leave, and that she wasn't worth my time! Why would she be! Then she got mad and punched me!"

"And you obviously didn't fight back, did you?" My dad patronized him.

"Well, n-no, not really. Just to defend myself!" He insisted.

That was a lie. I took offense first, then I went defense when he tried to punch me for a second time.

"I see." My dad sighed, putting a hand on my shoulder. "I don't need Samiko to tell me that you're a bad liar. If you didn't already know, which is probable, she cannot lie. It's part of her quirk-a mutation, yes, but apart of her quirk nonetheless."

The look on Asmit's face was priceless.

"So what happened again?" He asked the boy.

"I...I hit her after she hit me. And we got into a brawl..."

"Hm. Samiko?"

"It happened kind of fast...it's a little fuzzy for me. He pinned me against the fence and I kicked him in the ribs. and knee. He...he managed to get me on the ground and..gave me the black eye and lip. I wanted to break his nose again, but then the administration caught us."

"And brought you here, is that correct?"

I paused. It sounded like a stupid question. What did he mean by that?

"They gave me an ice pack in the counsellor's office." I assured. "Hanako-Sensei helped me."

He nodded. That was what he wanted.

"Well. Now that that's settled, what shall follow?"

"As of right now, expulsion is not off the plate for either of you," Principal Nato said. "At the very least, suspension, due to the extent of both student's injuries. But first and foremost, an apology is in order. Samiko, you started the fighting, you may apologize first."

I hated how powerless I felt in the situation. I didn't stand-I didn't think I could. I bowed in my seat toward the Principal.

"I am sorry for losing control and violating the policy of this school and tarnishing it's name. I understand that my actions were wrong, ask humbly for your forgiveness, and accept any punishment deemed fir by yourself and the school board."

"Well, that was quite gracious and well-spoken, I'm not the one that needs an apology," Principal Nato said calmly, "You are going to have to apologize to Asmit-Kun and his family."

"With all due respect," I was still bowing in my seat, "I cannot apologize to him. He insulted me and my family, crossed many boundaries I have and I feel no remorse for the injuries I inflicted upon him. Because of this, I am unable to apologize for my actions at the moment since I feel no remorse. It would be a lie, and I cannot lie. If I could apologize, I promise I would."

I heard my dad huff behind me. I wasn't sure what it meant.

"Well, you're going to have to apologize to him one way or another," she said firmly.

I paused. Did I not make it clear that I physically couldn't?

"Aizawa," Aoki-San (the dad) said to my dad. "talk some sense into your child."

"This is a side effect of her quirk," my dad said. "When she doesn't truly believe something, she is unable to physically say it. She was clear that if she could apologize, she would. All she can do is admit to him her actions were wrong, but if she cannot feel remorse for her actions, I won't force her to. Is that acceptable?"

My eyes were wide at this point in time. I began to slowly sit back up.

Principal Nato gestured to me to do that very thing. Since there was no argument from the Aoki side, I stood, then bowed, wincing.

"I admit freely my actions were wrong towards you and your son. I hope-for your sake-youa re able to forgive me, even when I am unable to regret it now."

"My son deserves an apology," His mother demanded through tears. "It doesn't matter what he did-you hurt him!"

"I did my part," I said quietly, carefully sitting back down.

She went quiet. I had that effect on people.

Principal Nato took the initiative. "Asmit-Kun, your turn."

It was a pathetic show of an apology. He couldn't bow, which was understandable, so that wasn't the issue. He simply said 'i'm sorry for my actions, please forgive me' in as dry of a tone as any.

"Now, I must get isolated sides to the story to determine punishment for-"

"This is an absolute shit-show of an institution," Asmit's father said. "You allow young women to run around and treat those around them like trash, and injure them and cause such ruckus and fights, and then let them get away with not taking responsibility for what she did-"

"I cannot do anything about the nature of someone's quirk, Aoki-San," Nato-Sama explained. "I am inclined to agree with you partially, but that does not excuse-"

"Who's to say that she's not stretching the truth, or just being stubborn? If it were my daughter I would give her a damned god spanking and see how resistant she is then to-"

"Fortunately for everyone, Samiko is not your daughter. If you have aproblem with her nature or the methods of which I choose to raise her, I suggest perhaps we have a chat after this" my father said. "And settle our differences like men."

Ahaha, yeah.

I'm so in for it.