Time is unrestricted; it flows or marches on without anyone's consent or permission. It doesn't ask, nor would it care for anyone else's response but its own. If asked why it flows at the same pace, neither slowing nor accelerating, it would say, "This is the only way I know how to do it."
To children, a year is a lifetime, two years is an eternity, and three years is an abstract concept that their minds cannot comprehend. But it was where they were a year older. Now eight years old, they moved from kindergarten, past the unknown of the first grade, to the maturity of second grade. Thankfully, they were all in the same class: Set, Momo, Shoto, and Izuku.
Over a year removed from the incident at the Todoroki home, living in a new house with their Mom and Kaina, and a year of adjustment to new ways to train Touya thanks to that book Momo had found for him. It was a prospect of build and release in quick actions; Touya couldn't hold fire like most other fire users; he needed to get it away from his body as quickly as possible. Most fire users would build up their attacks to increase firepower, and Touya had to build and release them as soon as possible. It seemed his body knew this before he did because one thing Touya could do was build up his fire very quickly. His single purpose of copying his father led him to trouble and pain.
"Good job, Touya; now I want you to try and blast that target over there and only that target," Inferno called out. Inferno has been a long-time sidekick of his father; she had been there practically since the beginning, but after the incident, she had left. She couldn't work for Endeavor any longer now that she was aware of the type of person he was, so she left the agency, citing a desire to strike out on her own. She was surprised when Touya and Rei reached out to her, but when the situation was explained, she knew that saying no was not an option.
Touya was reading the book by Ignis every waking moment. It helped him get a firm grasp of the concepts. Ignis had fire resistance. His fire was so hot that it didn't matter; he had to learn how to use it without burning himself to death. Inferno couldn't hold her fire, but she was adept at forming and concentrating her blasts and walls. She had worked hard and was now happy to try to help Touya do the same. She smiled, watching Touya and his little brother Shoto sweating away, working on their quirks.
Touya had to work hard. He had two years to learn to control his quirk adequately enough to take the entrance exams for the U.A. It would take all the boy had to do, but Inferno saw the determination to do it and not let his little brother down. Inferno hadn't seen the children much, at social events for the agency or a gala or two, but they didn't smile; the only one would be Fuyumi. Now Inferno knew why. This was different. She would see them smiling when they accomplished something or came close to achieving something, encouraging each other every step of the way. She was impressed with Shoto's strength for his age; If the boy continues to train his fire and ice abilities, he will become a force to be reckoned with by the time he turns pro.
Inferno stopped the training and sent the boys to shower before she exited to talk with Rei.
"How are they doing?" Rei asked as she was kneeling in the garden planting flowers.
"Touya has a long road to get ready, but he is doing great; that book is helping him," Inferno replied, extending a hand to help Rei up. "Shoto…that kid has future top 3 written all over him."
"He is talented now that he is embracing his fire and has someone proper to train him," Rei removed an envelope from her apron.
"Rei, I told you that you don't need to pay me," Inferno said, stepping back.
"Sutefanii…" Rei raised an eyebrow. "I know that, but I also know how expensive it is to start an agency independently. Now take it."
Sutefanii took the envelope and bowed. "Thank you, Rei."
"You're welcome," Rei smiled before pulling the girl into a hug. "You stay safe out there, Sute; I am cheering for you." Sute smiled before heading out for her evening patrol.
Change
Kaina sat looking at the file on her desk, then the picture of her, Rei, and the kids in a pillow fort. She opened the file, trying for the tenth time to read it before she shut it and sat back in her chair, placing her arms over her head and face. She had responsibilities now. It wasn't about just her anymore; the way Rei looked at her before they fell asleep or the kids started talking and reacting to her was tugging at her soul.
Touya, Natsuo, and Shoto all wanted to be heroes, their last example.. he was good as a hero, but the man was a piece of shit. She may not like Endeavor, but as a hero, she couldn't fault him; he worked hard and ensured he got the job done as safely as possible; hard for a fire quirk, but he had paved the way and became the benchmark.
The man, well, he could go fuck himself. But now she was the hero in the house; she worked for the Hero Commission, which was nowhere near the rank that their father had achieved. She was barely ranked in the top 100, just as the commission wanted for her. Her assignments had started to shift over the last year, and it didn't bother her as much as it should. The targets were terrible, atrocious, and needed to be removed.
Lady Nagant shot people, plain and simple; it was what she was good at and what her quirk did. But still, she wanted to be more; she knew that this kind of work would eventually take away her soul, and she had promised that to Rei, so it was no longer hers to give. She wanted to be an example for Rei's children and little friends. She could see them all going pro, maybe one day working with her, side by side. It wasn't about just her anymore; there were expectations on her shoulders; she had put them there herself and opened herself up to them. She had dreamed of the day when she and Rei would share a bed and wake up in each other's arms, but she hadn't considered what waking up to a house of children would do, how it reawakened that dream of being good…of being a hero.
Kaina sat at her desk, and instead of opening the file, she drafted her resignation letter, effective immediately.
Izuku and Change
Coming from the line after they met Eclipse, he was surprised to see his mom talking to someone. The two adults' conversation stopped as the group approached him, and Izuku stepped to the front. "Mom? Who is this?" he said.
"Izuku, I would like you to meet Mr. Aizawa; he is a friend of mine," Inko said, smiling. Izuku raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"How come I have never heard of him," he probed.
"He is a new friend," Inko answered. "I told him I was going to be here, and he was too, so we decided to meet."
Izuku took his mom's hand, tugging her away from the group. "Mom, is this the online guy?"
"How do you know about that," Inko said, a bit flustered.
"You don't always close your windows, and I have to use the computer sometimes," he replied.
"Yes, Izuku, he is the online guy," Inko whispered. "I like him, and I think he likes me, so we might even date. Is that okay?"
Inko watched as her son's face showed many emotions. He wanted his mom to be happy but didn't want her hurt. "Okay, but I have to ask him a question." Inko wanted to smile at the determined look on her son's face, but she didn't want to make him feel bad because he was trying to protect her. She turned and beckoned Shota over, who was looking at the group of kids in silence, having instantly recognized the Todoroki children.
Shota Aizawa walked over, "Izuku has a question for you." Shota raised an eyebrow and turned his attention to the earnest young man.
"Do you give up?" Izuku said.
"I'm sorry, I don't understand. What do you mean?" Shota asked.
"Do you give up? When things get hard, do you give up and run away? Cause if you are, then you should go away right now because we don't need someone who gives up," he said as fiercely as he could. Inko was about to say something, but Shota gently touched her arm. "My dad gave up because he was a coward and weak; my mom is strong and doesn't need someone who gives up." Little tears formed at the corner of his eyes. "I don't want anyone who gives up around."
"Does giving up make you weak?" Shota said as he crouched down to Izuku's eye level. Izuku nodded, "What if your Mom and I decide that we don't like each other like that?"
"Then that is failing and not giving up, it is different," Izuku said.
Inko and Shota raised their eyebrows. It was an important distinction to make, especially for one so young. "What if we fail?"
"Did you try your best?" Shota nodded. "It is okay to fail as long as you try your best, but if you give up because it got hard, go away."
Shota then asked a crucial question, "What if they are weak? Or not as strong as you?"
"As long as they do their best if they are weaker than me, I will protect them. Someone is always stronger." Izuku stopped and took a deep breath. "My dad gave up on us; he gave up on my mom and me. My mom will never give up on me and won't give up on her."
"I understand now," Shota smiled. "I don't give up either, Izuku. I promise to work very hard to get to know your mother and you better. I think she is exceptional."
"Okay," Izuku extended his pinky. "Pinky promise, if you pinky promise, it can't be broken."
Shota smiled and was hooked, pinky, around Izuku. "I promise."
As they walked back, Inko leaned over and apologized for her son's behavior, "I didn't realize how angry he was; maybe some therapy would be good for him."
"It is only natural. I was initially concerned, but when he made the distinction, it alleviated that," Shota said. "What is his quirk?"
"He can stop time," Inko whispered. Shota's eyes went wide.
Shota walked the convention floor with them till it was time to leave; he listened to the children talking about heroics and how excited they were to see all the heroes and collect their autographs; thankfully, he was underground, and not many people knew about him or would recognize him out of his costume anyhow. He listened and talked with the others, recognizing them from when he had responded to the attack on their home and discerning their quirks. He was surprised to see the Todoroki children out and about without an army of bodyguards. Still, he did notice the two eldest keeping a tight eye on the group and that they were being followed by undercover security. He recognized one of them, so it put him at ease.
When the day ended, he wished he could continue spending time with Inko; he was surprised when she reached out and hooked her pinky around his as they walked the floor. Her attentiveness to her children, him, and the area around her. He walked them to the valet and waited till their car arrived; Inko stepped in and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for a wonderful day, Shota."
"I would like to do it again," Shota said, taking her hand. "Maybe without the convention."
"I would like that. Would you care to exchange numbers?" Inko said hesitantly.
"Yes, please," he pulled out his phone as they tapped them together. He smiled at her blush as she climbed into the car, and he stood at the curb watching them drive away. He could barely remember the last time he smiled this much; the memory brought pain to his heart as he remembered his lost friend. Maybe it was time for him to address that, he thought. He sighed when he turned and saw Midnight and Mic standing there with giant grins; he would typically greet that with a scowl, but instead, he walked over and placed his arms around their shoulders. "Would you two care to grab a drink?"
Mic nearly fainted, "We would love to, Shota," Midnight said with a smile.
Endless March towards Tomorrow
Momo was pacing the hospital floor as Set and Fuyumi tried to calm her down. Why was her little sister being so difficult? She should have arrived last month like she was supposed to, but she was now a month late. Shionne was not cooperating with the schedule! The doors opened and out walked her father with a huge smile. "Momo, would you like to come meet your sister?" At Eight years old, Momo became a big sister.
Shoto watched as Touya was accepted into the U.A. Touya celebrated with his family and his adopted little brothers and sisters as they had become. After the night of the attack, the little unit was completely inseparable; he was standing in the backyard as things were winding down, staring at his phone. It had been a few years, and aside from cards and presents on their birthdays and holidays, there had been no contact with their father. Their mother had put the entire family into therapy after the divorce as a way to help them heal; she knew that their lives wouldn't be magically fixed just because they were away from him.
"Are you going to call him?" he turned and saw Fuyumi leaning against a pillar.
"I think we should call him just to laugh," Natsuo stepped out.
"Who are we going to laugh at?" Shoto added, following his siblings outside.
"Endeavor," Touya said.
"I have thought about it a few times," Fuyumi said, walking towards her brother. "At first, it was just me wanting to try and make everyone happy around me, but the therapist told me I should hold off. I want to know if he has changed or if we don't exist anymore."
"He does send us cards," Shoto added.
"Surprisingly, he writes them himself," Natsuo said." I thought it was one of his secretaries, but I recognized that writing."
Touya nodded, "Shocked the hell out of me. It angers me that I still want to know if he is proud of me. After all the shit he did, all the bullshit he pulled."
"It's because we all wanted it deep down for so long," Fuyumi said, standing next to Touya, and the Natsuo and Shoto came next to them. "Now I still want it but realize I don't need it."
"That is the truth; we don't need it," Natsuo said. "We never did, but want and need are two different things."
"I want to know if he cares," Shoto said, looking at the ground, kicking at the grass.
"Well, there is only one way to find out the answer to all those questions," Touya said, taking a deep breath. "I was thinking if this phone call goes well, maybe…lunch?"
"I can commit to lunch," Natsuo smiled, putting his arm around Shoto; Fuyumi nodded.
Touya nodded and dialed the number he knew by heart.
Enji was in the middle of a meeting when his phone rang; the room stopped as he looked at him with surprise. "Excuse me, I have to take this call. The meeting was dismissed," Enji said, stepping on the balcony. "Hello Touya, is everything alright…Congratulations on passing the exam…Lunch sounds nice; tell me the day, time, and location, and I will be there. Are your siblings coming...that is nice to hear…Oh, and Touya, I am proud of you…yes, goodnight."
Enji stared at his phone before slipping it back into his pocket; it had been two years, and Nezu had been guiding him in handling the situation. Being advised that he had to sit back and wait was the most challenging advice he had to follow. Patience was not his strong suit; he was aware of their grades from the school and read a few reports the teachers had written. It stung how each report mentioned a marked improvement in their academic work, mood, and social behavior. It had been hard to stay away and not try to force anything; his son Shakunetsu, whose mother had attacked the house, was proving difficult, demanding that Enji name him his heir.
Enji had talked about acknowledging him as his son, but he wasn't about to name the boy his heir. The child had been spoiled; fortunately, his aunt had taken him in, as he refused to be with Enji without his conditions being met. Enji had a sexual relationship with the Aunt, but she seemed more concerned with the money coming to her than anything else, though he was making sure that the boy's needs were being met.
Touya was struck dumb when he walked into class and saw Mr. Aizawa standing before the class as his homeroom teacher.
At Nine years old, Setsuna became a big sister to a little boy, Hiro, named after her father. It was also at that time that her father got sick again. The doctors and her mother were apprehensive, but she saw her dad smile and tell them he would be okay. Set laid her head on his lap, "How do you know?"
"Because you haven't gotten married yet," he whispered as he ran his hands through her hair.
"Then I will never get married," Set whispered.
"Nonsense, I want you to get married. I need to know my girls are cared for," he said quietly.
Izuku was adjusting to his mother dating Shota Aizawa, the underground hero Eraser Head. It was a slow process of him changing and opening up to the underground hero; his help seeing a counselor had eased the process. Shota was impressed, while Inko was a bit embarrassed at how protective Izuku was of her. But she understood that it was just that Izuku loved her so much, coupled with the sense of duty that she hadn't given up on him, that broke her heart. Izuku was scared of facing that again of being abandoned because someone deemed him not "worth" working to be around or with. The emotional scar that he carried from his father walking out was hidden so well under the mask of his smile.
It slowed down her and Shota's developing relationship as she wanted to protect her son, and the fact that Shota understood and supported her helped deepen their bond on an emotional level. One night after dinner, Inko washed the dishes while quietly listening to Izuku and Shota on the balcony.
"Aizawa?" Izuku fidgeted in place, clearly nervous.
"Yes, Izuku?" Shota turned towards Izuku, leaning on the rail.
"I am scared that if I let you in here," he tapped his chest, " you will leave one day."
Inko turned off the water to listen. "I understand that," Shota said. "Losing someone or being abandoned by someone leaves a hurt in your heart that never really goes away." Shoto looked out over the balcony. "When I was in school, I had a friend; he was my best friend."
"Like me and Set, and Momo, and Shoto?" Izuku said.
"Kind of like that, but yes," Shota responded. "We met in the U.A. I was quiet and grumpy, but he wouldn't let me be that way. He just pulled me in and wouldn't let me go. Kind of like Setsuna when you are sad," Izuku smiled. "During our internships, something happened, and he was taken away while on patrol."
"Oh No," Izuku said, his hands coming to his mouth, his brain thinking what it would be like if one of his friends were taken away.
"It hurt so badly," Shota turned and kneeled at Izuku's eyeline; the boy was surprised to see Aizawa's eyes wet. "It hurt, and I was so angry; I was mad at the teachers, the pro he was interned with; I was even mad at my friend. I wondered if he took things more seriously, if the pro had done his job better, or why the teachers even let him go out there unprepared." Aizawa placed his hand on Izuku's shoulder. "I carried it with me; every day, I carried that pain and anger. But it wasn't right; it wasn't their fault, let alone my best friend's. He didn't want to die; he had just as many hopes and dreams as everyone else. Your mom and you helped me realize I have been carrying this."
Izuku's eyes went wide. "Izuku, I won't promise I will never leave you; being a pro hero, just the way this world is, I cannot make that promise." He gently squeezed Izuku's shoulder. "I think you and your Mom are amazing, and I care for you both so much. I promise you this: I will never give up on either of you; I will always do everything I can to be there, come home, and support you both. The only way I won't be around is if I am taken away, but even then, I will be around watching and cheering you both on till I get to see you both again."
Izuku's lip quivered, "Promise?" as a tear rolled down his cheek.
"I promise, Izuku." Aizawa held up his pinky. Izuku looked at the gesture, and hesitantly, he hooked his pinky with Aizawa's. Then, Izuku released and wrapped his arms around the boy, lightly stroking his head. After Izuku had gone to bed that night, Aizawa waited for Inko to return from the boy's room.
Inko came around the corner and pulled him to her with her quirk. To his surprise, she kissed him deeply. "I love you," she whispered.
"I love you, Inko," he said as she took his hand and led him down the hall to her room.
Izuku woke to the smell of bacon and was surprised to see Shota cooking breakfast. He must have gotten off patrol early, Izuku thought.
When Izuku turned 12, he proudly walked his mother down the aisle to be married. A year later, he, too, became a big brother to a little boy named Oboro. That was also the year that Izuku met All-Might.