Chapter 95 - A Night With Imperfect Hosts
Underneath a bridge somewhere in Japan, a young girl with blue hair hid behind a thick, black cloak, huddled close to the campfire lit to brace against the snowfall beyond the bridge's ceiling. She was alone, rubbing her gloved hands together to keep warm, her mask stopping the winter from nipping at her cheeks.
Temperature | Average | Satisfied?
"I hate the cold..." She projected back, squeezing her legs close to her chest in an effort to stay warm. "Atleast you're here, I hate being alone."
Always | With | You
"-uki," A warm hand touched her's, snapping the girl back to reality. Izuku was staring at her with a plain but comforting look. "You spaced out again,"
"Right, sorry, just that it was cold," She replied, rubbing her ringed finger over his palm.
As of right now, their work under Endeavor came to a close once more, however, their next stop was one that caught even Yuki off guard. They stood within a large front garden of a well-off family. Behind her, Katsuki's face twisted with irritation.
"Why!?"
Shoto looked back. "My sister said for everyone to come over for dinner,"
"Why!?" Katsuki squawked again, clearly denser than lead.
"Because, she wanted to meet my friends," He stated as though it were obvious.
"Um, have you met, Dumb-Dumb?" Yuki deadpanned, hand waved back at the exploding teen. "He's not exactly wearing his heart on his sleeve."
"Go tell her right now that we aren't friends!" Katsuki snapped.
"Kacchan...!" Izuku hissed, trying to stem his anger while Yuki shook her head.
"Fuyumi's in for a long night..." Yuki whistled.
Perhaps we should intervene | Many would not survive such verbal assaults | Her kindness is above your own
"Aw, thanks," Yuki cooed, just as a blue flash appeared on her shoulder. Sat on her arm was a miniature version of Aksis, or SIVA, his arms crossed as he watched Izuku attempt to reel Katsuki's anger in.
Once indoors, the group was greeted with a warm smile from a far too kind woman. Fuyumi leaned forward graciously. "Welcome, thank you for making time in your busy schedules to come. Nice to meet you, thank you for always taking care of Shoto. I'm his older sister, Fuyumi."
Standing up straight, her grey eyes immediately focused on Yuki and SIVA, hopping closer to hold each other's hands. "It's been forever since you've come round, Yuki, and it's nice to see you too, Siva!"
|A pleasure| He bowed his head to her.
"Lots of work lately, plus Endeavor's a piece of work," She murmured that last part as the two giggled.
"Th-thank you for going out of your way t-to welcome us into your home, I'm Todoroki's classmate, Izuku Midoriya." Izuku bowed like a rusty joint, automatically making him a target for Yuki to mess with his tousled hair.
"This is Zuzu," Yuki dumbed down, enjoying his odd mixture of formalities with a flustered expression.
Fuyumi tapped her fingers together, "Yuki's told me a lot about you! I even saw your fight with Shoto at the Sports Festival!"
"Oh, now you've done it..." Yuki droned as SIVA shook his head slowly, though he didn't comment.
"Oh! I'm sorry for the injury I caused your brother at the time..."
"You sure didn't apologize to my family when you kicked my ass..." Yuki murmured off to the side, scratching her cheek dismissively.
"It was a match, so it's fine, Midoriya," Shoto replied, not once batting an eye at the greenette's very nervous attitude.
"Why...!?" Katsuki's eyes were redder now, his inability to understand why he was brought here lingering like a headache.
Guided through the house, the group was finally able to sit down before a lovely selection of food prepped prior to their arrival by Fuyumi. The girl was practically a jack of all trades outside of her job and it made Yuki's head spin sometimes. Joining them was Shoto's older brother, Natsu.
"Let me do the introduction again," Fuyumi spoke up after everyone was seated. "I'm Fuyumi, Shoto's older sister, and I'm an elementary school teacher," Her hand motioned to Natsu, his expression withdrawn as if he were lost in thought. "This is his older brother, Natsu, he's a college student."
"Hello," He managed politely.
"Shoto, what about your friends?" Fuyumi asked as he raised his own hand.
"These are my friends from the hero course, you've already met Yuki, but there's Midoriya next to her, and Bakugo," He stated simply.
"N-nice to meet you," Izuku answered, Katsuki just nodded with a breath.
"I'm also the one that keeps these two from killing each other," Yuki joked, patting their heads before flicking her gaze down at SIVA on her shoulder. "And this is Siva, my quirk... so to speak."
|Again, it is a pleasure to speak with you two again| He bowed his head.
Since this wasn't Yuki's first time being at Shoto's house, she knew very well meals like this were... tense. Just now, Natsu refused to look Endeavor in the eye, the Pro keeping his peace with his eyes closed. Fuyumi glanced around at the two nervously, Yuki slowly shaking her head before the teacher clapped her hands to bring the mood back. "A-anyway, let's eat before the food gets cold! If there's any food you don't like, don't force yourself to eat it,"
"Right, thank you for the food!" Izuku perked up.
"Thank you for the food," The others soon followed suit.
The group soon dug in at their own paces, since SIVA didn't even have a physical body, he simply kept his silence, as usual, leaning against Yuki's neck as she ate, humming as she admired the great balance of flavors. If she were honest, comparing Fuyumi and her Mom's food was near-impossible, if she was forced to choose Yuki may finally have met her match.
Unlike most, Izuku was lost in thought over the food's taste. "Even though it's well marinated, the outside is crispy, so you can tell it was prepared carefully, which delights-"
"Don't analyze the food!" Katsuki thundered, glaring past Yuki's chin. "Your talking is ruining the taste of the mapo tofu!"
Yuki then tapped Izuku's nose with her chopsticks, "Try to restrain yourself until we're done, I know I had to when I tried Fuyumi's cooking,"
"S-sorry," He apologized, continuing with his meal. "It's bursting with flavor...!" He sighed in contentment.
"Of course it's good," Natsu commented. "Ever since the housekeeper had to retire because of a back injury, she's been doing all the cooking,"
"I see,"
"Natsu, you cooked too, remember? We took turns," Fuyumi reminded him, drawing a brow from Shoto.
"Oh, then I ate your food too?" He inquired.
"I'm not sure, my food was heavily seasoned-"
"He's never really sure what's too much or too little," Yuki squeezed in by Izuku's ear, seeing him nod understandingly.
"-so Endeavor might've stopped you, saying, 'don't eat stuff like this'," No one missed that side-glare he shot across the table.
Like sparks of lightning, it froze the students in place, spoons caught in their mouths. SIVA lifted his head to do much the same, feeling a wave of animosity in the air. Endeavor didn't look surprised, staring at his food, "I didn't even realize."
Eating with a great deal of care, Yuki stared at the bowl in her hand, eyes cloudy while sucking in a long breath. Fuyumi asked Shoto about what he ate at school but Yuki couldn't keep her thoughts clear. Between yesterday's fierce battle with Halimaka, then to hear he vanished without a trace, coupled with the family drama set before her, everything brought back memories of her own family before SIVA.
They shared meals like this without a second thought, some were quiet, others were chaotic, but all of them carried a warmth that translated to the food as well. Sour thoughts make for sour food, but this wasn't her family problem to handle, she forced herself to stomach those feelings because her words wouldn't make a difference, not in the grand scheme of things.
A bowl was set on the table. "Thanks for the food," Natsu had finally stomached his fill too, standing up. "I came, that's enough, right?"
"Natsu!" Fuyumi tried to stop, again, a bolt of dread stung the air around the students present for this family matter, unable to breathe for a time.
"Sorry, sis, I can't do this..." He apologized, sliding the door behind him.
After dinner, Yuki remained with Shoto and Fuyumi in the dining room, cleaning the place in silence. SIVA remained attached to her shoulder, keeping his eyes steady, not that anyone could tell the Archon was blinking. "I feel bad making you, Midoriya, and Bakugo clean up, Yuki."
"If you told them not to they wouldn't listen," She smiled, rubbing her nape. "Katsuki's stubborn to a fault, same can be said for Izuku, and you already know my answer."
"How are your injuries?" Shoot inquired, bringing to light that Yuki was still recovering naturally without SIVA. She patted her stomach in response.
"Should be tip-top shape tomorrow, those flying venom strikes were crazy…" she had to admit, Halimaka was an amazing fighter.
"I see," He replied and the silence bar the clanking dishes stretched a few seconds longer.
"It's not like I never feel like Natsu," Fuyumi found herself saying, catching the pair's eyes. "But, now's our chance, what do you think of Dad, Shoto?"
Yuki glanced at her friend as he knelt down at the table, thinking heavily on the matter. "I think of this scar as being from him, Mom endured it... endured it until she couldn't anymore, he ruined her," He explained. "I can't forgive him so easily, but you know, Mom's trying to overcome this herself right now,"
Yuki remembered him showing her the letters he got from his mother, she was often asking about Shoto's wellbeing, never once saying much about herself until the very end. She met the woman once, long before she could speak.
"Mom, I brought someone here from school," Shoto replied at the door, it was well hidden how he felt about this, whatever happened next made him unsure of his decision but Yuki was insistent all would be fine.
"Oh, your friend you've talked about?" She asked, staring back from her seat with soft, grey eyes, her snow-white hair brushed behind her ear. Shoto jolted, two hands holding his biceps comically as they shuffled him aside for Yuki to poke her head in. The mask over her face left his mother quite baffled.
'Sorry, my mask can be a little unsettling at first glance' Yuki held up her note, eyes curved before bowing her head. 'I'm Yuki Azuru, Shoto's best friend - yes I am don't you deny it' She prodded his shoulder to keep him from speaking up.
"...right, she's the one I told you about, she wanted to meet you someday if I was okay with it," Shoto replied as Yuki tucked her mask against her temple to show her gentle smile.
'Again, sorry, my mask is important to me so I keep it on a lot'
Unexpectedly, the older woman stifled a giggle at seeing her son so nervous around her friend, and a girl no less. "That's quite alright, I just wasn't expecting to see you at all, Shoto always got so pensive at the subject, you look so beautiful so I can understand why," That made his eyes drift elsewhere as Yuki's silent laugh crawled up her face.
'You're regretting this, aren't you?' She flapped the note against his nose.
"...no comment,"
"Honestly, I don't know myself what I want to do yet," Shoto continued, glancing between his sister and best friend. "I still don't know how to feel about the old man..."
"You people..." The solemn atmosphere shattered as Katsuki threw the door aside. "If you're going to invite people over, don't talk about sensitive subjects! There are still dishes to be washed!"
"So that's what he's worried about...?" Yuki sweatdropped.
He is a perplexing person | But not entirely wrong | We often intrude on these matters
"Oh no, I'm sorry, it just all came out..." Fuyumi apologized with her hand up to cover her mouth.
In a panic, Izuku waved his arms back and forth. "Oh, um, we've heard about the situation from Todoroki!"
"Normally, you'd think getting invited over to dinner is a good thing!" Katsuki huffed, grabbing another tray of dishes. "The Sichuan mapo tofu's ruined!"
"He really liked that dish," Yuki cataloged that for her best friend back at UA.
"I'm sorry, we overheard..." Izuku added.
"The walls are thin in this house so it makes sense," Yuki shrugged, having overheard her fair share of issues from Shoto's family a few times.
"Todoroki?" Izuku spoke up, setting the dishes down to look at him evenly. "I think you're getting ready so you can forgive him,"
A revelation hit him, "Huh?"
"If you really hate your dad, then I think it's fine to not be able to forgive him, but, you're a really kind person," Izuku's words made Shoto speechless for once, Yuki's lips curled into a smile at her partner's often insightful heart. The words she wanted to say were finally conveyed by another.
"You've been put through a lot of turmoil, so take your time, you can't force change in an instant, I think we all know that well enough," Yuki replied, nudging his shoulder. "You'll know when that time is, don't stress over it, okay?"
"Yeah, so it looks to me like you're waiting, I'm sure that's the phase you're in right now," Izuku concluded.
"These two," Shoto was at a loss, they had unraveled his thoughts with only a few words, the very words he couldn't place himself. Was that what he wanted? The moment where he'd forgive his father?
After a small tea break, Endeavor called for the students to be taken back to UA for the week. Outside, Fuyumi grinned off to the side with Yuki, eyeing up the girl's ring. "What's this? You weren't wearing that the last time I saw you."
"Huh, o-oh," Yuki held up her hand, displaying the promise ring Izuku gave her at Christmas, just the sight of it made her very shy, face turning red. "I-izuku gave it to me in private..."
"That's so cute, you two really are amazing together," She cooed, cupping the bluette's hand.
"Th-thank you," Her heart was racing, holding her hand back near her chest while playing with the ring affectionately. "It honestly still leaves me speechless when he does things like this, almost like a dream,"
Fuyumi giggled at that, bringing Yuki closer as Shoto raised a brow at the two. "Say, what about Shoto, anything happening in his love life?"
"Definitely," Yuki grinned behind her hand. "I'll fill you in next time on his little 'date',"
"Really!?" She whispered, then pouted. "Can't you tell me now?"
"You want him to find out?"
"Nooo... but," She couldn't argue there, and stood back, clearing her throat. "It was really fun having you over again, Yuki, and your friends too."
"Thank you for the meal, it was delicious," Izuku pipped up.
"Thank you," Fuyumi said.
As Katsuki was getting into the car, he yelled back. "Teach me the Sichuan mapo tofu recipe!"
"Sure!" She was happy to hear that.
"I'll have her text it to me," Shoto offered.
"Fuyumi... thank you," Endeavor spoke up, not looking her in the eye but that alone still brought a smile to her face.
Unbeknownst to Yuki and Izuku, Fuyumi cupped both their hands, her face filled with gratitude. "Thank you for being Shoto's friends, both of you."
"Oh, well..." He grinned with Yuki. "Thank you, too."
Off to the side, Shoto scratched his cheek awkwardly. And so, their night at the Todoroki household came to a close as they returned to UA.
During the ride home, Endeavor discussed the group allotting times during the following weeks to study under his watch while balancing their studies since finals were on the horizon. Yuki had SIVA file that out days ago, a few alterations would accommodate them perfectly to avoid any burnout or overlapping commitments. Their days were getting busier by the week.
"-If you're number one, get your hands on a bigger car!" Katsuki had to say it, shoving Yuki's face against Izuku's, though she wasn't against the new resting place as she sat on his lap, the two secretly enjoying the force upon closeness with each other. Yuki shoved her hand against Katsuki though, pushing him onto his side.
"Stop shoving, otherwise, I'm throwing you in the boot!" She warned irritably.
"Oh, so a free ride isn't good enough for Mr. High Schooler!" The driver barked.
The couple sweatdropped. "What an aggressive driver..."
"Endeavor, since when do you bring brats like him along for the ride!?" He had no qualms about insulting his passengers.
Endeavor didn't bat an eye, but he clearly appeared exhausted. "Since I became number one."
"Zounds! I guess success changes a man!" The driver exclaimed.
None of them understood what he just said. "'Zounds'?" Shoto blinked widely.
"What is 'zounds'?" Izuku was lost.
"Endeavor's connections scare me sometimes," Yuki grimaced, that was when her nanites flared to life at the tips of her fingers.
|Incoming!|
"Zounds!" The driver swerved at the right time as someone bound in white, rugged material flew by the windscreen, it was Natsuo!
"Natsu!" Shoto gaped, spinning around on his seat to look out the rear window.
"Pull your head inside, brat!" The driver warned Katsuki as he attempted to navigate the road as the white lines began to bend and peel from the tarmac. Someone was controlling them like whips.
"Mr Kurumada! The white lines on the roa-!" Izuku winced as he was swung left into Yuki's chest, herself bracing the backs of the front chairs with her hands.
"Quit talking, you'll bite your tongue!" He hollered, evading the lines that attempted to thresh through the windows.
The villain stood dead ahead in the middle of the road. He wore horizontal black and white striped pants and shirt with an assorted vest. A mask covering the entirety of his face, except for his mouth and eyes. Some of his most noticeable features are his wide smile and crazed eyes. "You have such a nice house, Endeavor!"
Kurumada quickly spun the wheel to avoid the man, slamming into the guard rail as he spun and doubled back on the road to avoid the encroaching white lines. By now, Endeavor had vacated the car to intercept, leaving the others to recoil from the hazardous driving.
"Sorry, hold still, Izuku!" Yuki grunted, wiggling free from the seatbelt, pressing her torso against his face as she adjusted herself to break the glass panel above her, escaping through the roof of the car with a wink concealed behind her mask. "Join me whenever boys!"
"You stupid brat, don't climb on a moving car!" The driver snapped as she leapt from the roof, coating herself in a swarm of nanomachines.
"Siva, Perfected, Fifty Percent!" Her school blazer was consumed in the mesh of metal and wire, both her arms and shins fortified in time to slash apart the white arrowheads from piercing the car. Magnetizing her feet to the car, she steadied herself, warding off the attacks with twin cutlasses. "We need to free Natsu!"
There is not enough metal | We must engage without flight | I do believe you can handle this?
She nodded, leaping from the car as various lines pursued her across the road. Behind her, an explosion shook the car as the others quickly gave chase as well. From the boot of the car, their hero equipment was sent flying into the sky for Izuku to catch. "Kacchan, Shoto, Yuki!" He spun around, flinging the cases to their owners.
Yuki forgot about her case. She never needed a 'hero costume' since she could form one automatically, so within her briefcase was something much more valuable. "Thanks!" Yuki waved, standing before the webbing of white lines poised toward her body. Flinging the case open, the foam inside glowed with dozens of dormant clusters. "Let's try something new!"
Gathering them into a blue helix, the arrows pierced the earth around her, having been deflected by her arms bearing hardlight armor that expanded over her body. An exterior of hide formed, the clusters merged with her barding. "New move - Dusk Ward!" She gathered three clusters, then banished them to stick to her friends.
Their bodies quickly became enclosed in a thin aura of blue light, any of the white lines that struck them immediately ricochet off the surface. "Yes, it worked!" Yuki grinned, slashing through the tendrils that got too close to the buildings. "They've got the villain, I'll focus on support!"
Up above, shielded by Yuki, Izuku attached his gloves, bearing down on the villain without need for concern over his wellbeing. "No matter what... we'll protect him!"
In pursuit, a wall of tendrils crashed down in front of them, so with a clean haze of blue, Yuki shredded through the material with her blades, clearing the way while her Stone's Ward protected their blindspots. Katsuki blasted the aerial ones to pieces, Shoto scorched the ones flanking them, while Izuku charged with Yuki, blowing them away with air blasts alongside her slashes.
"Work-study kids! Don't ruin my death!" Ending dove back in fear of being interrupted, using Natsu as a shield in the meantime.
Despite the wide opening, the second Endeavor saw that panic in his son's eyes he felt his strength fade from his legs, he couldn't do it, not when so much was at stake. With all Natsu had said about him, what right had he to act right now? Natsu was in danger and he couldn't do a thing, nothing about him has changed.
The students rushed forward regardless, chasing down Ending as he hissed in anguish. "O flame of my hope! Looks like one son's life isn't enough to keep you from being a hero!" He swung his arms, ordering his tendrils to swing backward, snagging on the bottoms of several cars heading straight toward the calamity.
"Precisely, Store Up, Release!" Shoto harnessed his flames, condensing their raw, thermal energy into a fine sphere between his fingers before relating a powerful blast that rocketed his body forward past Yuki and Izuku. "Let Natsu go!" He threatened, eyes blazing.
Ending cackled. "Because you won't hurry up and kill me..." His tendrils coiled around the cars, sending them skyward in an instant. "More people are gonna end up dead!" He hung Natsu over a railway, a train barreling down the tracks.
"Izuku!" Yuki yelled, grabbing his hand as he offered it in an instant. Taking her hand, Izuku felt his body leave the earth with a massive gust of hot wind.
Utilizing that motion herself, Yuki spun to face the various lines still in their way. "They're like Halimaka's Venomous Cutting Cage... but slower," Compared to their velocity, these lines felt much more sluggish. Narrowing her eyes, Yuki knew what to do. "Take my augments and reconfigure them in an instant, adapt to the combat faster than your enemy can counterattack!"
With a sharp increase at her feet, her clusters gathered to complete the armor around her legs entirely say for her hands as blue bolts webbed through the concrete, and whatever white tendrils remained were shredded by a single, large bolt of light blue lightning, a thunderous roar reverberating after its ascension. "Striking Exile!" Yuki appeared high above the buildings, her armored legs strained but holding.
Izuku used his arms to thresh himself between the cars, adjusting his trajectory with the gauntlets burst, spinning upright with his arms behind him. "I can do this! It's the same!" He saved Katsuki and Shoto from Halimaka, he defended Yuki all the same before with them too. "I can do it this time!"
Raw energy flowed from his knuckles, the Blackwhips taking form to catch the cars suspended in the air, whipping his arms down to suspend them as he landed with a gracious glide. "No more will die! Not on our watch!" He hadn't realized it, his eyes flashing red and silver, his utilization of both Float and Blackwhip. "None of your wishes... are coming true!"
Natsu was saved by Katsuki propelling himself beyond his normal velocity, jumping in front of the train and back to the road in a blazing streak of thermal light. Shoto took the lead, propelled faster than the remaining white lines could catch, blasting the villain within a column of fire. Exhaling a frosty breath, Shoto glowered at the man. "Yeah, that's right, not a single one!" In an instant, he detained the villain in a geyser of ice.
Yuki landed with a stumble, thankful all bystanders were safe as someone gasped behind her from the pathes. "That was amazing! You just disappeared and then 'bam'!" Someone yelled, punching the air.
"She slashed those white lines so fast I couldn't see her!" Another praised.
"You're amazing!" Another cheered, causing Yuki to giggle behind her mask, eyes curved bashfully.
"I'm just happy everyone's okay," She replied truthfully.
Endeavor rushed to Natsu's side, and by everyone's surprise, hugged him as though he could've disappeared on the spot, although that also meant Katsuki was caught in the embrace until he shot himself out. With a glare, he pointed at Yuki. "What about the extras!?"
"By 'people', they're okay, no one was hurt on my end!" Yuki waved.
Katsuki pointed at Shoto next. "What about White-Line Chump!?"
"He's been detained," Shoto assured, his ice locking the villain in place as he wept at his defeat.
"It's not right! Not you... guys...!" Ending whined, unable to move. "It's wrong! All Wrong!"
Lastly, Katsuki barked at Izuku in the distance. "Damn Deku! What about the mob!?"
"If you mean, everyone who was in the cars', they're fine!" Izuku relayed.
It appears we were successful | Mission Complete | Well done
That was great news to Yuki's ears, glancing over toward her partner who shared her optimism. For the first time that week, after many mishaps, failures, and facing Halimaka, the four as a group had won against Endeavor, "It's a total victory!" They declared.
"Shut Up with that double talk!" Katsuki yelled.
"W-why!?" "Oh, butt out, Dumb-Dumb!"
With a lofty expression, Katsuki stared down at Endeavor. "What was it you said, Number One? 'The Winter'? 'Just Once'? 'Faster than me'? 'Show me you can capture a villain'!?" He was on a high note that his voice cracked.
"He's really an idiot," Yuki shook her head in her hand.
"Yeah, you did great," Endeavor's voice didn't even lift a bit. "You covered for my mistake, as quickly as possible,"
That wasn't what Katsuki expected. "Suddenly. he's all modest and crap, get a little more frustrated!" He huffed.
"Let it go, Katsuki," Yuki murmured calmly, watching Natsu and Endeavor. "Save it for now..."
"Let me go," Natsu shoved his way out of Endeavor's arms, and silence crawled around the street. There was no telling what would come of this outcome, how Natsu felt, how Endeavor felt, all of it was out of the spectators' hands.
Eventually, Endeavor found his voice. "I'm sorry, for a second it crossed my mind, that if I rescued you, you might never..." No, he had no right saying that, he knew this but a small part of him yearned for a solution like that, no matter how unrealistic it was. "...have anything to say to me, ever again."
"Natuso, it's okay if you don't believe me, it's not that I was shunning you guys... but I ran away, leaving you with the responsibility... I... might as well have killed Toya myself," Endeavor hung his head in shame.
A few people were honking their horns but immediately stopped once they met Yuki's glowing glare, her face darkened viciously. "Shut. Up." Their impatience was quickly silenced.
"It's not like you were shunning us? What then?" Natsu demanded. "It's what Toya always told me you were doing, the day I forgive you... will never come." Those words sunk in clearly years ago, Endeavor just neglected to admit it himself. Natsu was smiling in pain, tears welled up in his eyes. "I'm... not as kind as Shoto!"
Izuku stared on, reminded of his own neglect to a degree, refusing to give his own father the time of day until Yuki conversed him into trying to mend that bridge. If she never did, would things be as distant as Endeavor was with Natsu? Their situations were different but the resulting disconnection was real.
Yuki hated hearing about what happened to Shoto and his family, to Toya too, she understood that feeling of hatred very well, but this wasn't her problem to solve, not that she couldn't try to support them from afar, but this was their battle, just as her own family was.
"Even so... even so, don't you still show up for Fuyumi's and Rei's sakes?" Endeavor asked. "Fuyumi has an intense longing for 'family' because I ruined things. Aren't you making an effort, so she won't lose faith that we can go back? That we can start over?"
Endeavor gave his eldest son an honest look of a father who saw the monster he had become to his own children. "You're kind too."
Izuku's and Yuki's words rang in Natsu's head, it would be easy for anyone else, but Natsu couldn't let it go, all that's transpired. So why did it hurt so much? What should he feel aside from spite? Endeavor answered for him, "It's okay if you never forgive me, I don't want your forgiveness, I want to atone," Endeavor, at his core, knew what he had to do.
"Sis seemed so happy..." Natsu's tears fell uncontrollably. "But when I see your face I end up remembering, why should I have to actively change!? 'Atone'? What the hell is there you can do!?"
"I have something in mind," Endeavor began as Ending began to wail in horror.
"Izuku, hold these," Yuki handed him her swords, making him wince.
"Uh, Yuki?"
"One second, love," She pointed back, quickly moving past Endeavor.
"Stop this, Endeavor~! How can you be this way! Stop - Ah!" The maniac soon found Yuki's foot lodged against his forehead, her eyes jagged and red like Katsuki's.
"|Hey! Stop ruining this moment, you sod! Who said you could open yer stupid gob!?|" She had gone full British English on Ending, kicking him constantly to shut him up.
"Uh, I think he's-" Shoto suddenly clammed shut at her glare, raising a hand with a sweatdrop. "-n-nevermind."
Her final stomp knocked Ending out.
Sometime Ago...
The dark room was barely illuminated by the various computer screens and vats filled with mutated abominations, Nomu. Several figures were standing in the rows of wires and pipes, facing an old man who smiled sinisterly up at the towering visage of Kovik.
His armor was badly damaged and burnt, wires flailed from between his white barding and platemetal. His helmet was cracked, the pyramid suffering massive amounts of damage on the right face, leaving a faint, red glare to pulse through the visor. His arms bore no weapons, the fingers were broken or missing.
He sat facing the old man, his eyes never leaving the human's as a blade rose behind his back, aiming for his neck. "...if there is one thing I believe in completely above anything else, beyond Houses, Humans, and Eliksni...
"It's Loyalty."
And the blade came down with a whip of the wind.
To Be Continued...
Family drama to nearly tie up the first arc of Book Two. There was action, drama, love, and most importantly, family. But there's one last piece I want to fill in, I think you all know what I may be. I hope you enjoyed, I appreciate the support as always; seeya in the next chapter, Heroes!
Next Chapter Intermission: We Would Be Perfect
"That was too intense for dinner..." Izuku sighed, slumped against Yuki's back. Both equally as tired on a sofa. Zs popping above their heads.
"I know right? Welcome to what I walked into being Shoto's best friend," Yuki smiled regardless, looking up at the panels of Endeavor and Natsu. "Atleast it's a start, I think? For all of them that is."
Izuku sat upright, listing off with his fingers. "Now we've got Work-Studies, exams, the third term coming up, not to mention training One For All and SIV-" Yuki covered his mouth with a smile.
"Let's just take this as it comes," Rolling her eyes as he nodded innocently, she held her finger up. "Well, time for the arc finale, everyone, coming up, We Would Be Perfect - oooh, my Mom's in this one!"
Izuku removed Yuki's hand. "Go Beyond-"
She held out a peace sign in front of her left eye. "Plus Ultra!"