I only own this fan fiction. May contain Out of Character moments.
"Make sure you don't forget anything. Fuyumi doesn't need to be burdened with the task of mailing it back to you." Endeavor said.
Bakugou and Todoroki were loading their school bags and Hero costume case into the trunk of the mini-van. As for Minoru and Izuku, they held off under the instruction of Fenghuang. She had this twinkle in her eye, making the two boys realize she wanted to take the opportunity to do something.
"Hey, give me that mapo tofu recipe." Bakugou asked bluntly.
"Sure! I'll text it to Shouto the first chance I get!" Fuyumi said happily.
"Thank you for the meal Fuyumi-nee. If you want to do this again, don't hesitate to call." Todoroki said, bowing to his sister.
"Of course! Maybe next time, you can get your whole class to join us!" She replied. The young woman then turned to Izuku and Minoru, walked over, and extended a hand to both of them. The pair readily took it and felt the gratitude that was clearly flowing through it.
"Midoriya-kun, Mineta-kun… Thank you for being Shouto's friend." She said with a smile.
"The pleasure's ours!"
"Well… I'm technically Mineta's minion." Todoroki said, somehow saying that with a completely straight face. Minoru couldn't help but hack up a lung as Bakugou gave a malicious smirk at the shorter boy's misfortune and confusion. Why on Earth would he bring that up!?
"M-Minion?" Fuyumi asked, staring at her brother with a look of concern. But her expression softened when she and everyone saw the small, but fond, smile that was on Todoroki's face.
"It's one of our class's inside jokes. We get a kick out of it."
"Damn right we do." Bakugou replied with a nod. Even Izuku couldn't help but smile a little wider at the mirth such a small thing could bring.
"It must be quite the joke, seeing how much you all enjoy it. I hope you continue to treat him well, Mineta-sama." Fuyumi thanked with a bow to Minoru.
"Oh not you too! Shifu help!"
"Don't look at me. The responsibility of managing your employees and your relationships with them fall on you." Fenghuang replied, a smile on her own face. And she can fully say this as she, no doubt, has to do that when assessing the Heroes and instructors at the Temple. Minoru threw his hands up in the air and began walking off, having given up on the matter.
"Fenghuang, are you ready? We'll drop you and your students off at the station." Endeavor said as he opened the door to the passenger seat. But the Radiant Wing shook her head before looking up at the clear night sky, the brightest of the stars twinkling amidst the dark.
"Tonight is a nice night for a walk. So you and your students can go on ahead without us. And thank you both, Endeavor and Young Fuyumi, for being excellent hosts. Good night and good fortune to you." Fenghuang said before taking a bow. She then began to walk in the direction of the nearest station. Izuku and Minoru took a moment to look at each other…
They then bowed to the others as well before following their shifu while lugging their belongings.
For a while, the 3 of them walked in the cool serene air of Musutafu's suburban night. Unlike the nightlife of more urbanized areas, where mystery and wonder awaited people, the nightlife here was more for contemplation and introspection. That much was clear when Minoru and Izuku felt the air of deep meditation surrounding Fenghuang. And they had a fairly good idea of what she was thinking about…
"What do you two think about the Flame Hero Endeavor?" She asked, without turning to either of them.
"He's a scary but reliable Hero and a worthy successor to the Number One spot after All Might retired. His Hellflame Quirk is powerful at all ranges thanks to rigorous training and combat experience. It's quite incredible to see up close." Izuku answered, his eyes sparkling as he recited Hero facts as easily as ever. Minoru, on the other hand, was a little less admirative of Endeavor…
But he had to hand it to him, the man knew how to do his job.
"Since we got a chance to see Endeavor up close… I can see how he got to his position and all the accolades. He's fast, powerful, intelligent, insightful; his presence commands respect and all that makes people feel safe. And despite being critical of me… He still acknowledges the Hero I am and the things I can do."
Silence washes over them as they continue to walk down the street. Minoru couldn't help but swallow the forming lump in his throat. He knew what was waiting for them next. So the question came, slipping free from the Radiant Wing's lips.
"How about Todoroki Enji? What are your feelings on him?"
Neither Izuku or Minoru said anything. They couldn't say anything as the fresh memories of Fuyumi's sobs filled their minds. Todoroki's scar intruded on their thoughts as well, mainly of the times he had touched it contemplatively. Izuku and Minoru could even feel Natsuo's silent rage still, as if he was still next to them…
And the awesome presence of the Flame Hero? It was non-existent as the man behind the mask sat sadly amidst the ashes of his life.
"Disbelief… Anger…" Izuku answered, fists clenched.
"Horror… Disgust…" Minoru added, brows furrowed.
"Indeed… One's feelings towards the Hero and the man behind the mask couldn't be more different. I never imagined I would see such disparity when Endeavor first invited us over… Nor would I feel such rage after he revealed the truth behind the matter." Fenghuang replied, her grip around her staff tightening. The only other time in recent memory that their shifu ever displayed such displeasure was when Fenghuang ran into her ex-husband.
"I know you experienced this sort of thing before… What did you think about all of this?" Minoru asked.
"Todoroki Enji has caused irreparable damage to his family, bringing back unpleasant memories of my own. It enrages and disgusts me that a person like him can be celebrated as a top Hero…" Fenghuang answered, the venom in her words becoming more apparent. A contemplative silence followed as the Radiant Wing considered her next words very carefully.
"But… Endeavor has saved many lives, resolved many cases, and is wearing the mantle of Number One Hero well. He serves as an inspiration to many Heroes. What's more, unlike my ex-husband who hasn't accepted responsibility for the collapse of our family… Todoroki Enji has completely acknowledged that he is the sole reason for all of his family's trouble." Fenghuang said as she came to a stop.
"He was completely sincere in his admittance to guilt. It gave me a better understanding of the flawed, flawed man before me. He was once a good man… But his ego and ambition burned away at that good nature until there was nothing left. This did leave me wondering why he would tell me all this, when doing so would risk his career and family."
She then turned to her two students, her eyes still reflecting deep thought.
"Why do you think the Todoroki family told us the things they have?" She asked.
"... I think it's because they trust us. Minoru-kun, Kacchan, and I already knew most of it from Todoroki-kun… So it only made sense if they gave us the complete picture. But… I don't know why Endeavor would tell you Shifu." Izuku replied, taking a minute to consider his response.
"Does he think you're like a priest in a confessional? That by confessing his sins, you can absolve him of guilt?" Minoru asked, scratching his head at the thought.
"Even with the power of God, the shackles of guilt can only be removed by the sinner themselves. And Todoroki Enji has made no attempt to do so." Fenghuang said.
"Then… What now?" Minoru asked. She didn't answer the shorter boy. Instead, Fenghuang began walking again, causing the two boys following after her. Eventually, after a minute or two, the Radiant Wing turned into a nearby park.
It was your standard park, very much like the park Izuku and Minoru first met. But with the night and cold all around them, it made the whole place feel lonely and abandoned as no other sound but their footsteps were heard. Fenghuang proceeded to walk over to the jungle gym, the kind that looked like a metal frame, and brushed her free-hand along its bars.
"To have faith in another means to believe in something about them… Endeavor and Todoroki Enji have done both great and terrible things, creating a complex mix of emotions within me… But I will choose to believe in the path he is on. Putting him in a box now won't help anyone. Not himself, not Japan, and certainly not his family." Fenghuang said, her voice solemn but resolute.
She then jumped up, climbing until she stood at the top of the metal grid. Fenghuang then stared out into the suburban night around them. And despite not being that high up, Minoru felt like she was watching and feeling the entire world pass through her.
"I know for certain that others won't feel the same way I do… And I certainly would've been on their side had this behavior continued… However, I cannot ignore his attempts to change for the better. If I did, it would go against the Temple's sacred mission and my ideals." She said, feeling the cool winds blow around them.
"But there is no true answer for outsiders like us… That right only belongs to the Todoroki family. All we can do is provide our perspective and support and hope they reach a conclusion they're satisfied with."
This subject was heavy, as were the words spoken to them by their shifu. Minoru clenched his jaw and thought about the whole Todoroki family. The shorter boy did tell Fuyumi that Natsuo will find his closure in some way, as the other members of the family have. But is achieving a satisfying ending really that simple? After all Endeavor had done to them? Minoru can't say…
And looking over to his partner, Izuku was thinking the same.
However, before more could be discussed… A faint noise within the winds disturbed the three. And waiting a little more, another faint noise came to them, sending all 3 of them running towards the noise. It was close, about 5 minutes if they were to run at full speed. But like Endeavor had said, Heroes don't have time to waste or lives will be lost.
"Go on ahead! I'll catch up!" Fenghuang said, somehow taking the two boy's backpacks with her staff. Minoru immediately took out his folded staff from his costume case and Izuku did the same for his reinforced gloves. And once the two dropped them, the shorter boy leapt onto his partner's reliable back as the sparks of One for All danced. And in an instant, the two took off towards the faint noise.
Cutting their travel time to 1 minute, using the same method they used to keep up with Endeavor, Izuku and Minoru arrived at an urban city street, with a reasonable number of people out and about. Some were moving away from the sounds of battle, others were moving closer to watch. But as the pair neared the source, they felt warm and cold winds, as well as rhythmic explosions, blow past them.
Soon enough, they saw 3 things. One, Todoroki and Bakugou in the midst of fighting a Villain manipulating road markers. Two, said Villain had Natsuo hostage and wrapped in said road markers. And three, Endeavor was hesitating to act with the same vigor he had earlier in the day. Was it because his son was the hostage? And why hadn't this situation been resolved already by 1A's best fighters?
"Kacchan! Shouto-kun!" Izuku shouted, firing several bursts of Air Force at the Villain. The shorter boy then braced himself as his partner then threw Minoru next. The Villain had put up a guard of white lines for Izuku's projectiles, only for the shorter boy to fly through once it broke. He was ready to swing his partially extended staff into the Villain…
Only for him to hold Natsuo as a shield, causing Minoru to stop for a moment. But before the Villain could capitalize on the shorter boy's pause in momentum, Bakugou grabbed Minoru and pulled back as the attack came.
"We tried that already! But the asshole keeps using the big bro as a shield! It'd be a lot easier if he stupidly put him somewhere we can take him back!" He shouted before throwing the shorter boy back to Izuku.
"Who's this guy anyway?" Minoru asked as he found his way back onto Izuku's back.
"Ending, a Villain that was arrested a few years back by Endeavor. He wants the old man to kill him and took Natsuo-nii hostage to do that." Todoroki said, his heterochromatic eyes glaring at the Villain.
"Then how come Endeavor hasn't done anything yet? A Villain of his caliber would be no match if you 3 worked together." Izuku asked, taking aim again.
"He's got fatherly anxiety or some shit like that! We're on our own! Me and Half-and-Half have been doing damage control for the past two minutes because the fucker keeps causing more problems! If you want to die so badly, don't go dragging us into it!" Bakugou shouted as all of them began the attack again.
"Shut up brat! You don't understand the beauty of Endeavor's light and wanting to be consumed by it! Only then will my life have any meaning! Only in my chosen death will I be happy! So come on Endeavor! Kill me! Kill me before many more lives are lost!" Ending shouted, moving himself back. His white lines began flying towards pedestrians on both sides of the street, causing Izuku to throw Minoru to intercept. With a fully extended staff, the shorter boy landed and swung all around him to clear the attack. Izuku had done the same, protecting the people on his end with a flurry of fists and kicks.
"The only meaning you'll have is being my stepping stone!" Bakugou shouted, flying right for Ending. The explosive blonde's mid-air maneuver's were dizzying to follow, especially to Ending. The Villain then barely dodged a surge of flame by Todoroki, forcing Ending to move towards Bakugou's path of attack. However, when he aimed his palms at the Villain, Ending moved Natsuo between them.
"Fuck!" Bakugou shouted before he used his stored sweat to continue trying to outmaneuver Ending. This will go on forever if they can't create an opening. And the longer this goes, the more desperate the Villain will be to get his 'happy' ending.
"If the life of your son isn't enough to get you to kill me… Then how about this!?" Ending shouted, more white lines flying all over. Many more civilians were targeted and several cars were thrown into the air, causing the four of them to move to defend the civilians. But how were they going to deal with the cars in the air!?
"Deku! The cars are yours!"
Minoru and Izuku then saw Fenghuang riding in fast on a scooter onto the scene. She took Izuku's spot in defending the people with expertly placed swings, causing the green haired boy to fly up. The look upon his face told Minoru what was running through Izuku's head, 'I will catch them'.
This one thought was important, as Izuku and Minoru had spent a lot of time discussing One for All's hidden Quirks since Smokescreen manifested. Both Flight and Smokescreen activated when the green haired boy had a particular thought or goal in mind and the desire to see it through. Of course, it's a gamble whether or not the next Quirk will respond to Izuku's will right now… But if the past wielders of One for All were watching right now…
They will respond to Izuku's resolve.
From the knuckles of his hands, strange black tendrils extended out and caught all of the airborne cars.
"Nice catch, nerd!" Bakugou shouted as Ending barely avoided another pincer maneuver from the explosive blonde and Todoroki.
"No! No! No! I refuse to let it end like this!" the Villain shouted tearfully as he began retreating with Natsuo in tow.
"Bakugou! Use this!" Minoru shouted, throwing his fully extended staff at the explosive blonde. But despite the vagueness of the suggestion, Bakugou knew instantly what to do with this length of metal. He readied the staff like a javelin and took aim, the hand holding the staff glowing with explosive power.
"Suck on this!" Bakugou shouted before an explosion, louder than any Minoru had heard before, ripped through the air. The length of metal flew as fast as a bullet, striking Ending in the chest well before he could move Natsuo in the way. With the Villain stunned, Todoroki slid in and severed the white line connecting his older brother to Ending. Then, with his right hand, a line of ice spread towards the Villain until it froze him over.
"How do you like that you son of a bitch!?" Bakugou shouted as Endeavor rushed past him. The Flame Hero immediately went for Natsuo and Todoroki, the latter helping the former escape his bonds. Endeavor then hugged the two brothers, the tension in his body evaporating as he held them.
Izuku landed gently upon the asphalt, setting down the cars shortly afterwards, tendrils disappearing, as the passengers got out.
"How are they?" Minoru asked, turning to his partner.
"Safe and sound, but a little nauseous!"
"And the Villain?" The shorter boy asked, turning to Fenghuang as she stood next to the still frozen Ending.
"Raving like mad, but secured."
"Well how about it, Mr. Number One!? We beat a Villain before you did! Mission accomplished, right!?" Bakugou boasted as he and Minoru approached the men of the Todoroki family. But instead of responding, Endeavor was busy still holding his sons in relief-filled silence. That was until Natsuo and Todoroki finally pushed themselves out of their father's embrace.
"We're fine old man, you don't need to fuss over us." Todoroki said, patting out the remaining embers from his burnt school uniform.
"But some Number One Hero you turned out to be! Relying on interns to save your own son! What the Hell were you doing!?" Natsuo shouted. Minoru flinched as the middle brother had a point. If Endeavor had helped Bakugou and Todoroki earlier, they'd have resolved this case well before Izuku, Minoru, and Fenghuang arrived. But, here they were…
"I'm sorry! I just thought, if I had saved you… You would've felt like you owed me something I don't deserve…" Endeavor said, voice filled with remorse. Natsuo's face was full of confusion, as was Todoroki's face, with the two siblings staring at their father as he spoke words from his heart. Both Minoru and Izuku can tell, just from the way his deep and powerful voice shook with pain.
"Natsuo… I never wanted to hurt any of you… You, Shouto, Fuyumi, Rei, Toya… I really did love you all… But I couldn't control my foolish obsessions and I laid waste to our family. Worse still was how I blamed others and dodged responsibility for all these years, thinking that the end justifies the means… I was wrong, so very wrong. And I wish I realized this sooner… Then perhaps Toya would still be with us…"
"Well he's not… He told me everything you know… So what if you realized what went wrong? I'm not going to forgive you just because of a few honest words. I'm not as caring as Shouto." Natsuo replied, tears welling in his anger-filled eyes.
"... I'm okay with that." Endeavor replied, voice dead serious. Once more, all eyes were on the Flame Hero as various emotions and questions filled their heads. But Minoru, Izuku, and Fenghuang fully understood why he said that.
"I lost the right to forgiveness a long time ago… But even if I'm not forgiven, I will continue working to better myself. To not only atone for the actions of my past, but to ensure I will never hurt others like that in the future. Because that's the only way forward left for someone like me."
"Did… Did you get all that out of a fortune cookie? You've suddenly got a way with words now, you sorry excuse for a Dad… Everyone's changing… I know how hard Fuyumi-nee tries to bring us together for even a single night! I know how much Shouto is trying to use the flames you gave him for good! I know how many letters Mom is putting her future hopes into! I know you're actually trying to be better than that man who left us all behind!" Natsuo began, his tears flowing faster as his voice became more raw with anger and confusion.
"So why!? Why does it have to be me who has to change next!?" He asked, slamming his fist into the asphalt. Silence took over between father and sons, the tension growing as the question reverberated through their hearts
"... I don't think you have to. Fuyumi-nee, Mother, and I think you're just fine the way you are. And even my friends say you don't have to change for reasons you don't like. That you can find your own path to closure, with or without the old man." Todoroki said, breaking the silence. He then gestured to Izuku, Minoru, and Bakugou, whose eyes Natsuo met. Izuku and Minoru gave a nod of support while Bakugou gave him a 'do what you want' shrug.
"... Then how on Earth will you atone for everything you've done?" Natsuo asked, looking back to Endeavor as he wiped his tears.
"By becoming the Hero you all deserved back then. I've also got other plans to–"
"No! Stop that, Endeavor! You're supposed to be Ferocious! Arrogant! Dazzling! Not this soft–!?" Ending shouted, his raving mad words cutting off Endeavor. Then, in return for interrupting the Flame Hero, Fenghuang chopped the Villain in the back of the neck and rendered him unconscious. It sort of reminded the students of Class 1A of Kendo, who would do the same thing to a blabbering Monoma.
How nostalgic.
"That's enough out of you, Mr. Hostage Taker. Endeavor, the police will be arriving very soon. Let's prepare our report of the incident. Also, I've got a scooter to return to a poor delivery man." Fenghuang said, gesturing to the motor vehicle she parked haphazardly off to the side.
"Yes… And thank you for your assistance tonight. You and your students have been a great help when I couldn't be relied on." Endeavor said, picking himself off the ground as Todoroki helped his brother up.
"In Heroics, and in life, we always could use some help. And I wanted to know if my faith wasn't misplaced. But it seems I was worrying over nothing." Fenghuang said with a smile.
"Truthfully, after a shameful performance like that, I'd be worrying… I still have a very long way to go before I become the Hero my family deserves…" Endeavor replied, looking wistfully at his two sons.
"Acknowledging the problem is always the first step to improvement. You're slowly on your way there, Todoroki Enji."
As Fenghuang and Endeavor continued their motivational talk, the UA students gathered around Natsuo, making sure he was fine after such a harrowing incident. Both being taken hostage by a Villain and having an intense heart-to-heart with your hated dad can take a lot out of someone. But based on how he and Todoroki were talking, Minoru knew he was fine.
"I'm sorry you all had to come rushing in to help me. You weren't on a train when this all happened were you?" Natsuo apologized.
"No, these idiots and the lady decided tonight had perfect weather for a stroll. It's fucking winter, numbnuts. You want to be indoors, not out." Bakugou said, removing his grenade-shaped gauntlet from his arm.
"When it's meditation time, you just go with the flow. You should try it sometimes, Bakugou. Who knows? You might develop an actual personality instead of being a one-dimensional angry gremlin all the time." Minoru said, dodging the furious hand that came his way.
"Are you really alright, Natsuo-kun? With your father, I mean." Izuku asked, gesturing to the Flame Hero.
"No… And I don't think I ever will be… But if he is really serious about being a better person, I'll just let him do his thing. As long as he doesn't hurt Mom, Fuyumi-nee, or Shouto again, I don't care what he does with his life and just move on with mine. It's tiring, getting angry all the time…" Natsuo replied, his eyes flicking towards Endeavor for a moment.
"Tell me about it." Todoroki replied, nodding along with his brother's sentiment.
"So, do you still think me and Half-and-Half made a mistake? Choosing your shitty old man for our internship?" Bakugou asked with a smirk, arrogantly marching up to the older brother.
"Dude! Now's not the time to be stroking your ego! The man just got out of a hostage situation!" Minoru commented, punching the explosive blonde's leg. Bakugou just threateningly hissed at him, palms crackling, but the shorter boy didn't budge from his place and folded his arms unimpressed.
"No, it's fine, let the guy mouth off. It won't change the fact you two still needed help like Endeavor did." Natsuo replied, his lips being pulled into a small smirk.
"You little–!"
"Kacchan no!" Izuku shouted as he began holding back his old friend.
"I guess we still have a lot to learn, all of us." Todoroki said, looking towards Izuku, Minoru, and Bakugou. The shorter boy could only nod to that as he went to look at Endeavor.
Despite everything that the man has done, there's still one thing Minoru can respect about him. Even in his older age, his prestigious rank, and his complete train-wreck of a family life… Endeavor still had the resolve to become a better person. Most of his life was ashes and cinder at this point…
And yet Endeavor has enough of a spark to become a better Hero, a better person, for people that won't completely reciprocate his efforts.
That takes real strength.
Strength that the shorter boy hopes they all can wield one day without making the same catastrophic mistakes Endeavor did. And with one look back at Izuku, Todoroki, and Bakugou being lively and rowdy with Natsuo, despite the harrowing situation they all went through…
Minoru believed they were getting there, one step at a time.
And that has been Chapter 142.
It wasn't easy to write these two chapters as the subject of abuse is an absolute minefield. The best way to navigate it is to carefully consider your stance on the subject and the personalities of the characters you are writing for.
All the members of the Todoroki family has a valid approach when it came to resolving their feelings on Endeavor and his abuse. Rei and Fuyumi chose forgiveness in hopes that they all can move forward as a family again. Shouto chose to keep his father at arm's length, carefully observing his actions. And Natsuo simply chose to cut Endeavor out of his life completely. Even Enji acknowledges the pain he put his own family through and chose to better himself, making amends in any way he can.
All of these approaches are valid... Except for one. The MURDER option. You all know who went for this approach.
As for me, I have no tolerance for people who hurt others. Whether it was unintentional or deliberate, it doesn't matter. I will not let it stand.
However, I am also an optimist who believes in the power of change. I wouldn't have written 142 Chapters and counting of a fan fiction that revolves around Mineta Minoru, one of the most reviled characters in My Hero Academia, bettering himself if I didn't believe characters like Endeavor and Bakugo could become better people too. That would be the very height of hypocrisy.
So walk on Endeavor, through this long and thorny path called 'Atonement'.
Before I end this end-of-chapter note, I have great news.
My planning has yielded much fruit and I was able to get far ahead in it. As such, I will be able to publish weekly chapters again. So look forward to next Sunday as things will finally pick up again for our Saint and Sinner.
And with all that finally said...
Until Next Time. T1.