Three Years Later

Todoroki Abode (9:30pm)

Wait, it's my turn to narrate? Whoo, finally! Hello, fine ladies reading my inner thoughts. My name is Touya Todoroki, eldest son to the biggest douche in Japan, Endeavor. He made me to succeed. Take over All-Might's role as 'The Symbol Of Peace.' I was excited to follow in my dad's footsteps, but when I turned five, he changed. He found my weakness.

I had Mom's ice resilience, but my quirk burned my skin the longer I use it. With that announced, Dad stopped training me and focused on creating the perfect heir. Natsuo came, but only had Mom's quirk. Four years later, Shoto, my youngest brother, came, and he carried Mom's and Dad's quirks. He became the son Dad craved for. It irritated the hell out of me.

I trained all by myself, waiting for his approval. But none worked. He ignored my efforts like flushing the longest shit without taking a picture! Weird metaphor, but you get it! I was near a breaking point until Miya arrived. She was my aunt, Dad's younger sister by a year.

She wasn't like Dad; out-going, honest, compassionate, and fun as hell. I loved Miya the first time I'd saw her. She listened to my distress and told me these words.

'Forget Enji, Touya. He'll learn not to neglect his fatherly duties, but you focus on yourself. What would Touya do?'

What would I do? That question stuck with me. Miya helped me abandoned the expectation train and onto the freedom of speech bullet train. I'd found my rhythm, gained lots of friends outside my middle school, and gave Dad the finger. Once graduation came, I dismissed the idea of attending high school. Dad urged me to go to UA, but I pissed him off. Because UA would trigger some unsettling memories.

As a twenty-three-year-old man, I'd lived the good life. I just snuck into my bedroom after gathering an item Genki bought. He's a friend I'd met during my eighth-grade year. His knowledge of support items were awesome and using them gave our free time something to watch. They were entertaining for immature yet free adult men. Tonight, Genki presented Q-Pills, the latest items he found.

"Be careful with these, man. Only take one pill. Have fun, Dabi."

Dabi was supposed to be my pro hero name, but it became a nickname Genki used. I didn't mind, though I'd wished I chose a different name.

"Let's see what these pills can do. The first subject is Dad, of course."

I snickered softly, as Mom, Dad, and my siblings were asleep. None can know what me and Genki were doing, otherwise Dad will roast my ass. Though, I'd like to see him try. Blue flames verses hellflame. Which one will win?

I tiptoed near Mom's and Dad's room, hearing soft snores. Well, Dad's snores. Mom doesn't snore like a grumpy grizzly bear. I slid the door open with the softest movement, tiptoed inside, and shook a deep blue pill onto my palm. 'One pill and Dad'll have the worst case of head cold in the morning.' Snickers tickled my throat, lungs squeezing out oxygen.

The thought of Dad having a second quirk and acting unaware of it was priceless. But I needed concentration. I poured the pill down Dad's throat and watched it slide further to his stomach. With the duty done, I dashed out, shut the door, and speed-walked to my room. 'Wow, that was nerve-wrecking. Now, I'll wait for tomorrow morning and see Dad's hilarious reaction.'

Genki said Q-Pills allow users to gain quirks for a day. Sounded simple to remember, but the confusing part was the randomness of gaining a quirk. Either that user was quirkless or not, the quirk in question depended on variety. Will Dad get laser eyes? Flight? Acid Vomit? Ew, no. Don't wanna see Dad puke acid. I erased those questions and changed to my night clothes. Just a wife-beater and gray sweatpants. My crotch had been itching, and I knew what it needed. Ladies, look away, while I relaxed my junk. Thank you for reading my narration. Onto my brother's.

If you'd asked which one, I was referring to Shoto.

The Next Day (6am)

I poured milk into a wooden bowl, ready for a weekend trip with Izuku and Bakugo. Cereal was a breakfast item I loved when I was little, but it became a go-to meal. Mom and Fuyumi cooked breakfast, while me and Natsuo ate cereal in silence. Touya stepped into the dining room, a lump stretched over his crotch area. Fuyumi gasped, followed by Mom.

Natsuo's face turned blue upon staring at Touya's noticeable bump underneath his sweatpants. I faced away, already aware of Touya's night habit. Dad told me not to copy Touya's behavior, because they'll turn me into a delinquent. Like touching one's private area called them a delinquent. Every man relieved themselves through that method. Don't ask; our health class shared the topic.

"Touya, you need to stop that."

Touya rolled his eyes and yawned. "Why should I? Twice a day won't hurt it." He sat next to Natsuo, who scooted two paces away. I followed his lead, avoiding Touya and his bulging bump. "Plus, we're home. You and Mom are familiar with my habits."

"But it doesn't mean you should… Ugh, nevermind, Touya. I'm sure that bump will shrink."

"Not while I'm single and waiting for a hot chick to—"

"AHHHHH!"

A voice sounded like a boy. Mom peeked through the door frame, worried about where the scream came from. "Should I check, Mom?"

"Yes, Shoto."

I gulped the remaining milk, placed the bowl on the table, and left. Walking down the narrow hallway, the voice echoed towards me. I'd never heard it, so someone sneaked into the house uninvited. Miya joined me, also aware of the sudden scream. "It came from the bathroom, Shoto."

One fist covered in smoke, Miya grabbed the doorknob. Frosty air covered my fist, as she opened the door and revealed a teenage boy. Baggy pajama clothes surrounded his lean frame. He faced us, terror etched in his eyes and hands underneath long sleeves. "Miya!? Shoto!?"

"Uh… Who the hell are you?"

Wait, the boy's hair. Crimson red, spiky, and short. His icy blue eyes matched my right eye and Dad's. Ah, if this was Dad, a long conversation between us was near. "Dad, is it you?"

"Yes, Shoto! It's me!"

"What!? Enji!? How are you a teenager!?"

We dropped our quirks and Dad stepped out the bathroom, frustrated and dragged his oversized pajamas. "I don't know! After waking up and excreting my urine, I noticed the bathroom had shrunk. Then, my voice sounded youthful, as if I'd returned to my younger days. I walked to the sink, seeing the mirror and my reflection."

"And that's when you realized you've turned into a fifteen-year-old?"

Miya shook his head, all with an irritated expression glancing at Dad. I pinched the bridge of my nose and lowered my head, also irritated in what I'd saw. Dad was a teenager, around my age.

When we entered the dining area, Fuyumi, Natsuo, Touya, and Mom dropped their jaws. Dad sighed, a blue shade of embarrassment eclipsed him. He hunched over, sulking hard and regretting the outcome. Last night was normal, so waking up as a teenager wasn't Dad's means of morning routine. Mom was the first to approach Dad and ask questions about the situation. "Why are you a teen?"

"D-Did a quirk hit you?" Fuyumi stood near Mom, worry spread on her face.

"Maybe a villain with an age regression quirk, but I don't remember."

Natsuo wanted to speak, but was too flabbergasted in seeing Dad's teenage body. He finished his cereal, grabbed his duffle bag, and said his goodbye to us. "Let me know when Dad returns to normal, alright?"

He jogged to the entrance, not wanting to hear the awkward discussion. Touya was the last member to react. A burst of laughter escaped Touya, and he rolled on his back, legs kicking and hands hugging his stomach. "What's so funny, Touya?"

"Oh, nothing. It just funny seeing Dad as a kid."

He continued to laugh until Dad grew too frustrated to sulk. We stepped back and watched Dad stomp to Touya, who sat up and wiped a tear streaking down his cheek. "Despite me reverting to a teenager, I'm still your father, Touya! Stop acting childish!"

"Oh, I'm not acting childish, you are. It makes sense, because you're literally a kid!"

He roared a hefty wave of laughter, louder than before. We ignored Touya's funny reaction and listened to Dad's announcement. "Until this regression quirk subsides, I'll call my agency. Have them know I won't be coming in today."

"Today is Saturday, so not a terrible choice, Dad."

Mom kneeled to match Dad's current height and patted his shoulder. "What are you going to do, sweetie?"

'Sweetie' got a blush from Dad. He hid his face, steam flowing above his spiky red hair. Adolescence was a period Dad hated reliving. Hormones, acne, and emotional mood swings were subtle traits of adolescence. Again, our health class shared that topic. "Since I'm off, I guess I'll tag along with Shoto."

On second thought, Dad as a teen wasn't working. For me, at least. "Can you stay with Mom and Fuyumi, Dad?"

"No, Shoto. I have my therapy meeting and Fuyumi has to go to Saturday School."

"Saturday School?"

"Yes, the school thought education on the weekend will help students learn faster. Sorry."

Their smiles were innocent enough that saying no wasn't an option. I sighed and stuffed both hands in my pocket. "Okay, Dad. He can join me."

"Sorry for not butting in, man. I have a meeting with Gloria."

Gloria Smithfield, aka "Disco Heroine: Glam." She was Miya's only friend, a trusted ally with groovy vibes and pure intentions. I understood why Miya preferred a meeting with Gloria over watching Dad.

Musutafu Plaza (8am)

"So that's what happened, Izuku. Is this confusing?"

I saw Izuku's green eyes widened after I'd explained who the boy was. He took a moment to gather his bearing and out of the stunned position. "Uh, I understand, Shoto. Sorry, Mr. Todoroki." A nervous smile spread on Izuku's face as he bowed before Dad. He was in my spare middle school uniform, which he recommended I buy. In case some delinquent messed my first uniform, I'll switch it with a fresh one. Even though no delinquents ruined my uniform, the spare wasn't a waste. Most of Dad's clothes wouldn't fit his teenager body.

"Apology accepted, but why are we at the plaza?" He crossed his arms, a scowl clear and strong.

"Kacchan wanted us to check out an arcade center, but he fought Asano again. He won't meet us today, Shoto."

Yeah, I'd heard Izuku's message earlier. Before my family witnessed Dad's regression to adolescence, Katsuki and Asano fought after breakfast and destroyed the living room. Their mom punished Asano, obviously, but told Katsuki to clean the living room they burned. I wondered how much money Katsuki's mother had. Every time Bakugo and his sister fight, she and her husband buy replacements for furniture damages.

Not having Bakugo around wasn't slowing down our day, as Izuku guided me and Dad to the arcade center. Games weren't allowed in my house, because Dad believed they'll rot my brain. His rules were rigid. Add the fact that he distanced me from my siblings and his rules sounded tortuous. It was a good thing Miya returned to Japan and fixed our dynamic.

While Izuku tried out a few arcade games, Dad and I sat around the table. I'd urged him to play one game, but he wasn't listening. He faced the opposite direction, scowl deepened and eyes closed. "What's wrong with being a kid?"

"Nothing, Dad. We see something, play it, and get hooked. Most children who play video games grow up to become graphic designers. Those designers create more video games that defines genres."

"You're spending too much time with those boys."

"You mean Izuku and Bakugo?" I leaned forward, forearms planted on the table's surface. A reflection showed Dad's conflicted expression shifting between convinced and confused. "I see nothing bad about them."

"Oh, really? Midoriya doesn't have a quirk, yet he encourages himself to become a hero. Bakugo, although a talented boy with a powerful quirk, still hangs out with Midoriya."

"That's because they'd been friends for years."

"Friends who should have known how serious quirks are. Quirkless people must live frugal lives, not risk their bodies to save others. We still have normal occupations, so Midoriya should change his goals."

Pissed in what Dad said, I changed the topic. "So, how's grandma doing?"

"Your grandmother is doing well, Shoto. Rei visits every two weeks."

I shook my head, not the answer I wanted from him. "I mean from your side. How's she doing?"

This stunned Dad. He dropped his attitude and expanded his eyes, staring at me. Color drained from his face as he shivered. Did I touch a nerve? "Are you okay, Dad?"

"N-Nothing, Shoto. It just that… Ah, how should I explain this? Your grandmother is… Uh, she was…"

He fumbled to say the right words. I touched Dad's hand and said, "What did Grandma do?"

"Ah, Shoto. This is going to hurt me."

He flicked my hand off of his. His back leaned against the chair and eyes faced the ceiling. "Before Miya was born, my father, Akashi Todoroki, married a Caribbean-American woman named Pamela Rodrigues. She had the prettiest blue eyes, tan skin, and curvy hips."

Pamela Rodrigues? Never heard that name, but I'd allowed Dad to explain.

"She loved Father, but her reasons were selfish. Pamela, before visiting Japan, was a gold digger. You're too young to understand what a gold digger is, but they're women who hunt for money. Men with tons of money in their pockets. The wealthiest men were a gold digger's favorite hobby. Father knew nothing about Pamela and fell in love. After their marriage, Pamela had Miya."

'So far the story sounds simple. A woman who hid her gold-digging habits from Grandpa.'

"Four years later, Miya had her quirk, Smoke, and Pamela wasn't impressed. That began a terrifying childhood between me and your aunt. Pamela favored me, but paid little attention on Miya. To vent her frustrations of being a housewife, Pamela assaulted Miya. Bruises were on her body, scars scrapped into her skin, blood stained her clothes. Miya would have told Father the truth, but Pamela threatened her not to."

'Now, this got interesting.'

"When we were in middle school, the students called Miya plain, because of her acne showing. She refused to buy skin care products, because Pamela bought fashion brands with Father's money. He worked hard to support our house, yet Pamela wasted it on herself."

'Oh no. I didn't know Miya was struggling with Grandma's actions.'

"UA came and Pamela began dating a man behind Father's back. He noticed and started collecting evidence of Pamela's adultery. He had all photo and auditory evidence, but the incident occurred. Father tried saving a little girl's life, but both died. Me and Miya witnessed the ambulance wheeling Dad's body away from the scene. We were speechless. That scene motivated me to pursue my heroic career as 'Endeavor.'"

'Oh… Dad mentioned how Grandpa died, but it still hurts.'

"A few days before the incident, Father told me to look over the evidence. I agreed, as I'd never appreciated Pamela as my mother. I'd felt regrettable in not helping Miya. She suffered the most pain, yet I'd kept concerns inside myself, like a bottle with the strongest lid. Years went on, until Miya befriended Gloria Smithfield, a transfer student from Colbury, Maryland. They were inseparable; Gloria cheered Miya up and encouraged her to pursue her career as 'Mrs. Plume.' They promised to show Kimi Sanamaki who's boss."

'...'

"After UA High, my expectations shot through the roof. I'd done everything to please Father's heroic sacrifice. But that led to my family suffering. I'd became my stepmother. I… Dammit!"

Dad laid his forehead on his forearms, wailing into them. Tears drenched the sleeves, trickling to the table's surface. After listening to his story, I sympathized. The reason behind Dad's controlling attitude was because of how his stepmother did to him and Miya. Grandpa did his best to reveal Pamela's scandalous behavior, but passed his responsibilities onto Dad. His death, as well as Pamela's behavior manipulating Miya, changed Dad negatively.

I stood up and walked over, towering Dad. He lifted his head, tears streaked his cheeks and red-rimmed eyes faced me. "I'm sorry for dropping my guard, Shoto."

"You don't need to apologize, Dad. Your story showed me how honest you were. Why keep this from us?"

"What my stepmother did was disgusting. Grotesque, as she showed no love to us. Father was right to store the evidence in a wooden box, ready to arrest Pamela. But she moved to America, married her fifth boyfriend, from what Father researched, and forgot about us."

"And where is the evidence?"

Dad wiped tears, struggled to stand up, and stubbled towards me. I wrapped an arm around his shoulder, as he regained balance. "Apologies. The evidence is in my room, hidden from you, your mother, and your siblings. Sharing this made me ponder. Do I have time to ruin that woman's life?"

"There's still time." I smiled and extended my hand to Dad.

"What?"

"Miya spent time in America, enjoying the freedom she deserved. When you called her after sixteen years, she considered not taking your offer, until you insulted her. Because of that insult, Miya returned to prove you wrong. Then, she fixed our family. I'm saying time does matter. You can bust Grandma at any time. Only then will you be at peace."

It seemed Dad understood my speech and hugged me. As a fifteen-year-old boy, Dad struggled to express his emotions.

Izuku approached us with a small pile of stuffed animals in his arms. "Hey, Shoto! The crane game was amazing, though hard to grab smaller toys. Can't wait to share these with Kacchan. Huh?" He noticed Dad's crying and tight hold on me. "What happened, Shoto?"

"Nothing. Dad let everything out."

"Uh, okay. Let's get something to eat."

I nodded, and we left the arcade center. A few hours later, Izuku visited Bakugo's house and shared his prizes with him. There was the occasional Asano calling Izuku 'Deku' and Bakugo defending him, but I wasn't interested. Dad, who've been outside the house, occupied himself, reflecting on his actions. Even more so than our trip to the Jaku City Resort. Afterwards, Izuku and I separated, heading to our homes. "Shoto?"

"Yes, Dad?"

"Uh, I'm sorry for separating you from your siblings. It's not enough to fix the scars I'd conflicted, but it's something."

"I accept your apology, Dad."

My smile warmed Dad's cheeks, as he fluttered his eyes and widened them. He turned away, mumbling about how his teenager years were the worst. I nodded, though I just began my teenhood. We entered the house around 7pm, smelling what Mom and Fuyumi cooked. Our time together showed Dad's good side for once. I'm sure he'll change and our family will act normally. Now, I've been thinking about how UA High will be.

The school recommended me through a scholarship, meaning I won't participate in the entrance exam. That was good, but I'd told the principal to allow me to partake. Dad wouldn't like it if I'd skipped the exams over a scholarship. Even if he congratulated me on getting it, performance was important than education.

After dinner, we changed into our nightclothes, started our routines, and fell asleep. Tomorrow morning sparked a fresh start within our family.

The Next Day

"Hi, Shoto. Are you eating breakfast or cereal?" Mom finished cooking eggs, bacon, and soba noodles.

"I'll have the noodles, Mom. Thank you." I sat next to Natsuo, his eyes carrying dark circles. He'd been studying for a test, so he stayed awake all night.

Breakfast tasted well with soba noodles. However, the atmosphere changed when Dad yelled. We faced the door, expecting him to barge through with angry eyes, but Touya strode near, his sweatpants showing that bump again. "Ah, again with this, Touya." Fuyumi covered her eyes, cheeks blushing from Touya's aroused bump.

"Had a busy night, sis." He entered the dining room with a confident grin. He brushed his unkempt red hair and sat next to me. I scooted two paces away, not touching his bump or sticky sweat.

Stomps approached the door frame, and Dad—back to his original age—growled.

"Oh, you're back." Touya didn't sound too concerned.

"Yes, I'm back to normal and pissed at you, Touya! Where did these come from!?" Dad showed us a pill bottle with dark blue pills inside.

Touya's face turned pale, sweat coated his already sticky skin and trailed down his temples. "They were in the cabinets after I reacted to my age returning. You better explain this, boy!"

Not even Touya, who was the bad boy of our family, was immune to Dad's wrath. In an instant, Touya dashed out the dining area. Dad followed suit, yelling at Touya to come back. We rolled our eyes, as this had been a running gag throughout the household. Soon, I'd gathered my belongings for school. This was my last week at Musutafu Private Middle School, because during the summer, I'll prepare myself for the entrance exams. How my life will go was limitless. New friends, my family supporting me, and more?

I guessed Dad marrying my mom had its advantages. It not only bought him out of his controlling ways, but he realized how important family was. He promised not to follow in his stepmother's footsteps. Even though I wouldn't forgive him for almost ruining our family, Dad knew his actions were unapproachable. Once he busted Grandma for adultery, neglect, and abuse, he'll be free from his past. Grandpa would be proud of us.