A family dinner
“So, this is Yuki, huh?” The white-haired Todoroki stared at the four year old who was currently in Hawks’ arms. He wasn’t sure what to think of the situation. Natsuo hoped this was all some sort of a fever dream.
“Yep!” Hawks chirped. “She’s adorable, isn’t she?” Yuki waved shyly at the stranger and cuddled into the hero’s chest.
“I take it you two had a good time?” Fuyumi called out from the kitchen as she prepped the evening's dinner.
Keigo and Natsuo moved away from the residence’s front door and towards where Fuyumi stood cutting vegtables, they ignored the burnt couch on the way. “You bet, Yuki made some real progress!”
“I almost flew! For real!” The kid smiled at Fuyumi.
Natsuo crossed his arms, leaning his broad shoulders against the kitchen wall. “So I’m taking a break from Uni so I can spend time with my supposedly dead brother’s daughter?” He scoffed. “I’m sorry guys, this sounds ridicilous.”
Fuyumi frowned. “That’s what I thought at first, Natsu, but you have to believe Hawks. It’s a very plausible theory,” She nudged her brother with a nearby ladle. “Wouldn’t you like to believe Touya’s alive?”
He sighed. “Of course I do, Yumi. It’s just almost too good to be true…”
“That smells good!” Yuki chirped, leaning away from the blond to take a sniff in the air.
She laughed at the toddler’s enthusiasm. “You think so? I’m sure you’ll like it.”
Hawks looked over Fuyumi’s shoulder. “Mm, she’s right, watch’ya making?”
“Tonkatsu!” The Todoroki exclaimed happily, moving over to the rice cooker. “We would usually be having Soba during our rare family dinners, but Shoto isn’t here and it doesn’t feel right.”
Natuso smiled to himself as he observed the three rant about supper. He much rather be here than at his college dorm studying for his midterms. It was not usual for him to enjoy being around the family that ruined his childhood--maybe something about Yuki’s presence eased something within him. Maybe she’s proof this family isn’t so broken after all.
He did believe his older brother was alive, he wanted to anyway. Natsuo couldn’t remember much about the fire that took Touya’s life but he can recall that he was always a fighter. But what he couldn’t rap his head around was the fact that his brother never came back--he gave no sign he was okay--he just left. His sister mourned her twin for years, Natsuo never felt the same. So hearing the news that Touya may still be alive was both thrilling and upsetting.
He felt guilty for feeling upset. Every ounce of his body should be happy. Touya got away. He’s nowhere near Endeavour. But he abandoned us. He abandoned Hawks. He abandoned Shoto. Their dad didn’t ease up after Touya was gone. If anything, he only trained Shoto harder. And it’s Touya’s fault.
Natsuo shook his head. It’s not. He shouldn’t think so ill of his older brother. It was Enji’s fault if anything.
“Now you three get out of here! I can’t make dinner if your crowding the kitchen!” Fuyumi’s voice brought Natsuo back to reality.
Yep. The Todoroki thought to himself pleasantly. I wouldn’t want to spend my winter break any other way.
Moe was feeling uneasy as she stepped into Endeavour’s agency. I have to talk to him as soon as possible. Her boss had a right to know--right? Hawks is a close partner of the Number one hero, they shouldn’t have secrets between them.
Does Miruko know? The sidekick questioned. She knew the bunny and the bird were best friends, but Rumi had never mentioned anything to Moe. She’d like to get to the bottom of this.
Moe took a deep breath as she steeled herself to knock on Endeavour’s door--he was a top hero--he barely had time for even his most favorited sidekicks. I’m doing the right thing by telling somebody.
It took a moment for Endeavour to reply. “Come in,”
The pro hero took a cautious step into the office, noticing his tense posture as he sat at his desk doing paperwork. I should’ve caught him at a better time…
He looked up from his stack of papers, noticing his sidekick entering the room. “Burnin? What do you need?”
“Hey, Endeavour!” Burnin responded enthusiastically. “I need to talk to you, it’s important.”
Her boss raised a brow. “Can’t it wait? I’m quite busy.” He retorted, sending her a common glare.
Burnin winced. “No, it has something to do with the Number two hero.” She pulled out a file, and slipped it on Endeavour’s desk.
Enji cautiously took the beige folder and flipped through its contents carefully. His face dropping after removing the photos inside. “What is this?”
“I took them earlier today,” Burnin replied. “I was patrolling the area alone and caught sight of them.
Burnin could still remember the shock she felt upon seeing the two at the park. It was Hawks…and a small child.
“The Commission never informed anyone that he had a daughter,” Moe continued. Which was strange. Every teenage girl in Japan would go crazy for a top hero who was a single dad.
Endeavour gripped at the file tightly. “It all makes sense now.” He shot out of his seat abruptly.
“Huh?”
Endeavour was practically seething at this point. He grabbed his computer mouse and skimmed through his banking information, landing on a certain transaction that took place yesterday.
“What is this?” His sidekick questioned, confused.
Enji pointed at the screen. “My youngest son purchased a Hawks toy very similar to the child’s. Not to mention her clothing.”
Burnin gasped as she noticed the similarity between the two. “But what could this mean? Why would the son of Endeavour buy things for Hawks’ secret daughter?”
“Because,” Endeavour gritted through his teeth. “She’s my granddaughter.”
He should’ve seen this coming. Everything made sense now. It wasn’t long before Burnin walked in his office and Enji noticed something off about Hawks.
It started several years ago. The young hero was always smooching up to him, talking to Endeavour as if he was his idol. And one day, it just stopped. Hawks stopped talking to Endeavour in such a sincere manner, and the pro hero could tell when he was being avoided.
Hawks became closer with his family. Endeavour couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment the winged hero managed to squirm his way into his family life—always on the phone with Natsuo, hanging out with Fuyumi. It didn’t make sense. For years the blond had been an annoying thorn in Enji’s side.
But just recently he noticed a different shift in behaviour. In all of his children. Natsuo had decided to come home for his break, Fuyumi doesn't want him at the house, Shoto is using his credit card for purchasing children items—why?
It all had something to do with Hawks and that little girl. Burnin confirmed it. It was no coincidence to Endeavour that the mysterious toddler had bright red hair. She was Touya’s spawn.
Enji clenched his fists. Somehow that brat managed to survive that night and escaped. And now he was coming back to haunt him.
It was also no coincidence that the child sported scarlet wings. Hawks’ wings. He must’ve been the one who called his son that day. Endeavour just never realized. That’s why he’s been so distant, and that’s why his children knew the winged hero.
Everything seemed to connect into place, and it made Endeavour mad. How could he be so blind? So foolish? To think Touya was alive this whole time—he needed to speak with Hawks. Immediately. He needed to see his granddaughter.
Endeavour smirked at the photo his sidekick left with him. Wings, huh? I wonder if this child possesses Touya’s blue flame as well.
A power above All Might’s.
Looks like he was taking a trip home.
“Trust me, Fuyumi would do anything to host a family dinner. Especially with Yuki. They’re there.” Shoto stated firmly as he and his brother ran towards the estate.
“We don’t even know if we’ll get there in time.” Dabi retorted, angry at himself for not being able to run any faster. Neither had any other modes of transportation.
The siblings were able to pass through the city under the cover of the dark evening, through alleyways and small side roads. Dabi told Toga and Twice the situation before sending them back to the League. This was going to get messy.
Dabi didn’t even know if he was ready to face Hawks after all these years—how could he? The scarred man knew in his heart that he’d hurt the bird by leaving. He can’t imagine the hero would ever forgive him. But Yuki came before his personal feelings.
Another thought crept up in his mind—and that was his role as Dabi. The winged hero already knew Dabi. As the villain recruiting him into the League—but how could Keigo ever see him as Touya? Dabi shivered at how awkward it would be encountering the blond once everything goes down. Dabi may just have to quit the League and move to Aruba to escape all the melodrama.
“We just have to believe we can make it.” Shoto replied.
“Can’t you just glide faster with your ice or something?”
“Touya, that’s an abuse of my power. I don’t even have a license yet—it’s illegal.”
The villain looked at his brother incredulously. “Sho–does it look like I give a rats ass if it’s illegal?”
“Enjoy!” Fuyumi exclaimed once, setting everyone’s dishes down. They all looked expectantly at the delicious meal.
“Thanks for the food!” Natsuo and Hawks chanted before digging in. Yuki sat between the two of them, struggling with her miniature chopsticks.
“This is so yummy, Yumi!” Natsuo said happily as he practically swallowed his dish whole.
“I’m glad you like it! It’s so nice to have you here for dinner!”
“Hey, Fuyumi, why didn’t you invite Miruko?” Hawks looked up from his donkatsu, smirking at the blushing Todoroki.
“M-Miruko, why?”
Keigo shrugged. “She’s been dying to see you, plus she already knows about Yuki.”
“O-oh -w-well—“
“Does my sister have a crush?~” Natsuo teased as he elbowed Hawks, the two of them laughing in unison.
“N-Natsuo!” Futuristic scowled. “I do not!”
“I see the way you look at her when she comes up on the news—“
“Keigo, please!”
“We’re just teasing, sis” the white haired Todoroki chuckled, stealing a chicken piece from his sister from across the table.
At that moment Yuki chirped, her bowl almost completely empty of Fuyumi’s tonkatsu.
“Wow! Seems like she enjoys it.” Hawks smiled at his daughter, ruffling her hair.
“I’m so glad,” Fuyumi grabbed the chopsticks from Yuki as she tried to stuff them in her sleeves. “I only gave her a small bowl because I wasn’t sure.”
“More please!” Yuki chirped.
“Of course, sweetie.” Fuyumi reached her hand out to grab the empty bowl but stopped short when her phone rang. She frowned. “Who could that be?”
The three of them leaned in as the phone was answered. At first no one could hear anything but the pounding of footsteps and heavy breathing.
“Well that’s weird.” Natsuo piped up.
A voice eventually came through. “D—d—coming—is—there—quick”
“The reception is bad, I can only hear bits and pieces.” Fuyumi commented, trying to move her phone to get a better signal.
“Is that Shoto?” Hawks questioned. Why is he so out of breath?
“To—With—me—please—Dad—credit card.”
“Credit card?” She repeated. “Shoto, we can’t hear you, your voice is cutting out.”
“End——! We’re—on—our—way–“
And with that the line went dead, leaving Fuyumi, Hawks, and Natsuo very confused. She placed her phone back down on the table.
“On our way?” Natsuo questioned, scratching his head, “what could that mean?”
“Maybe he’s with my intern, Tokoyami?”
“Why would they be coming over here?” Fuyumi asked, crossing her arms. “What an ominous call.”
“Maybe it’s a butt dial.” The younger Todoroki suggested.
“Yeah…maybe,” Fuyumi continued grabbing Yuki’s bowl so she could grab another serving. “Let’s continue eati—“
A loud and strong knock sounded at the door,
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, cutting her off and silencing everyone in the room. Even Yuki looked perplexed at the strange interruption.
Hawks looked in the entrance’s direction. “Fuyumi, were you expecting anyone?