The evening orange and raspberry sun painted the lively streets, creating an incredible atmosphere. Schoolchildren, workers, and ordinary people hurried about their business, enjoying this beauty. Many sat in parks, embracing their loved ones or partners, while others laughed with their loyal friends, creating warmth and comfort for each other.
In this hustle and bustle of people and bright sunny colors, two figures walked. A boy from middle school with broccoli-colored hair, short stature, and emerald eyes was accompanied by a woman with white hair and a raspberry hue. Together, as student and teacher, they walked towards the sunlight that shone in their faces.
Izuku involuntarily covered his eyes with his hand. Squinting, he tried to look at the road sprinkled with golden rays. A warm, pleasant feeling of significance arose in the boy's soul as they walked in silence, saying nothing. It was as if Izuku had returned to the past, walking through the same scenery. He lowered his head, not wanting the past to interfere with his enjoyment of such a bright and beautiful moment. He was not alone, and the sounds of nearby footsteps revealed Fuyumi, who walked beside him, smiling and enjoying the warmth that fate had given her.
"Fuyumi-san, where are we going?" Removing his hand from his face, he looked at her, but she did not turn in his direction, which caused strange feelings in Izuku.
"We are heading to a special place where I found peace and discovered my path in life." Showing curiosity, Izuku smiled at her. She believed in him and even decided to show him a place where he could see what she had become. This meant a lot to Izuku; no one had ever believed in him or genuinely tried to be friends with him. Even the teachers and the principal, who were supposed to help him with school affairs, simply turned away from him, revealing their attitude.
"Fuyumi-san, what kind of event are you planning? None of our teachers do that." With interest, he looked around, unable to understand where they had come. All that was before Izuku was a solitary tree and a wooden swing hanging from two ropes. Everything seemed very strange to him, and he could not understand why they had come here and what Fuyumi wanted to show him.
She stopped with a warm smile, looking at the place that meant more to her than the tree, grass, and swing. Unaware of anything wrong, Izuku sat on the swing, looking at her. In the sunlight, her beauty transformed into something special, something warm. Without her glasses, she appeared more beautiful, and her raspberry strands of hair revealed themselves to him in a new light. Venom remained silent, not wanting to interrupt the moment.
"I see you like this place just as much as I do." Giving in to warm memories, she sat down on the ground, leaning her back against the tree. Raising her head, she gazed at the blooming tree before her eyes.
"A place is just a place. Though it looks beautiful, I'm not strong in landscapes." Fuyumi giggled at Izuku's words, continuing to watch the orange sun with her turquoise eyes.
"It's hard to blame you for that, Izuku-kun. This place means a lot to me, and thanks to this scenery, I have rethought many things in my life while I was in school, just like you." Izuku became interested in her past; he partially knew her as she sometimes talked about herself, but he was genuinely curious about the path she had taken to gain such confidence.
"I'm in no hurry, and I don't mind learning something new about you, Fuyumi-san." Looking at his red sneakers, Izuku leaned forward out of curiosity. Fuyumi remained silent for a while before speaking, breaking the magic that had been created around them.
"What would you like to know, Izuku? About my past? Or how I became who I am?" For Fuyumi, the past was not filled with joy like for many children, but she had forgiven herself for showing weakness. Living in the past for many years, she found herself in a loop that was difficult to escape.
"I would like to know what kind of event you have prepared for us." Fuyumi snorted upon hearing the word "event," even though she had been preparing for this conversation.
"What can I say? He is still a child," she thought to herself. Brightly smiling, she created ice in her hand, showing it to Izuku.
"Look, I will tell you everything about the event. If I manage to tell you everything before this ice melts, you will unconditionally participate." Izuku eagerly accepted this challenge, clenching his fists and looking at her resolutely.
"I accept your challenge, Fuyumi-san." Meeting his determination with her warm smile, she stopped maintaining the ice with her quirk, allowing the warmth to melt the frozen piece of water in her hands.
"Let's start with the fact that this is your last year at school. I understand the stress you have to face during exams, and I wanted to do a little surprise for you in the form of a cosplay party, Izuku." The word "cosplay" evoked mixed feelings in Izuku, as he would have to dress up and socialize with people who did not take him seriously.
"Wait, are you talking about an event where we all dress up as heroes and hang out?" Izuku swallowed hard, while Fuyumi rolled her eyes upon hearing that half of the students would dress up in hero costumes.
"BOOOO, that's boring, Izuku-kun. Nowadays, everyone and their mother dresses up as well-known superheroes in everyday life." Regaining her warm smile, Fuyumi continued explaining important details about mini-games, snacks, and competitions.
"Therefore, at this party, it will be forbidden to wear professional hero costumes. It's boring, uninteresting, and monotonous." The ice melted in her hand, and even if Izuku were to win, he would gladly accept her offer. He would feel guilty for the rest of his life if he refused her. He was still curious about this and wanted to try himself in a different role than being a hero behind her back.
"If students want to participate in this celebration, the costumes should be homemade and from various fiction sources. For example, anime, movies, cartoons, books, etc." Listing everything, Fuyumi didn't even notice how Izuku had not taken his eyes off her, eagerly absorbing every word.
"Will you participate too, Fuyumi-san?" For a moment, she hesitated and wavered before answering him. Placing a finger on her chin, she nodded and raised her finger for emphasis.
"Yes, Izuku-kun, I will participate just like the other participants. In this event, I want to teach my younger brother some social skills." Proudly raising her chest, she used her quirk to completely melt the ice. Water dripped down her smooth, creamy-white skin. The water instantly evaporated in her hand, creating steam.
"Fuyumi-san, your quirk is amazing! I never realized you could do that." Sitting on the swing, Izuku joyfully rocked back and forth, unable to contain his excitement.
"Thank you, Izuku, but judging by your reaction, I can tell you don't need any challenge to participate in this event." Continuing to watch the happy student, she finally stood up from the ground, brushing off any dirt.
"I'm really curious since I've never done anything like this before. Of course, I'm not much of a tailor… but it sounds fun," he admitted with a light smile, a little embarrassed as he scratched the back of his head. The swing creaked quietly under his weight, and the warm breeze played with his hair. He raised his gaze to Fuyumi, seeing a slight pride in her eyes—not just for him agreeing but for managing to pull him out of the darkness he had been living in for a while.
"This isn't just about costumes, Izuku," she said, fixing a strand of hair that the wind had blown away.
"It's about forgetting all the rules, expectations, and pressures for one evening. Just being yourself but in another role. As young people say, it's self-expression." Izuku nodded; her words seemed to penetrate deep within him. He felt the invisible weight slightly lifting. It was as if someone had given him the chance to breathe fully, even if just for one evening.
"Do you... think I can do it?" he asked uncertainly, clenching his hands on his knees. He tried to appear determined, but doubt lingered. Too much pain, too much loneliness—it wasn't easy to let all of this go after one conversation.
Fuyumi knelt before him and gently touched his shoulder, smiling warmly at him. Warmth. A truly warm touch.
"We wear masks every day, Izuku. But there come moments when you have to take that mask off. All you need to do is allow yourself to be vulnerable in front of those who deserve it. I am one of them. And you can trust me not as a teacher but as a close person." He remained silent, but inside, something shifted. A small fragile flame, lost in eternal darkness, flickered and began to glow. Perhaps for the first time in a long time, he felt that he was not just a tool or a shadow, but a person who someone believed in.
"Then... I will try. For you. And for myself too," he quietly but resolutely said. Fuyumi gently nodded, pleased with his response. The sun was already sinking lower, bathing the world in soft raspberry-golden light. The wind rustled the leaves of the tree, the swings swayed quietly, and everything around froze in this fleeting yet genuine moment.
"You know, you lack socialization, Izuku." Sitting back in her place, Fuyumi began to clean her glasses, listening to the creaks and sounds of the rustling wind.
"What do you mean? I communicate normally with you, and I don't think I'm that bad at interacting with people." Throwing an annoyed glance at her, Izuku diverted his eyes to the side, trying to escape the conversation. The topic of friends had always been a painful wound for him. Due to his lack of quirks, he could not make friends, as most interactions revolved around that. Lacking uniqueness, Izuku was considered a dull spot to them.
"I understand that, but your circle of communication shouldn't be limited to just me. Understand that you are a teenager, and now is the best time to make friends." Continuing to look at the scenery, Fuyumi heard how Izuku fidgeted and groaned at the word "friends."
"You see, Izuku, to make friends, you don't necessarily need to see benefits in people. Sometimes, ordinary human communication is enough to make friends," she declared. However, upon hearing the swing stop, she turned her head and saw Izuku sitting against the bark of the tree.
"It's easy to say that when you have a quirk. I don't have one at all, and every time I tried to befriend someone, it all came down to quirks and what they were." Izuku countered, lowering his gaze. Venom, who had remained silent inside him, decided to speak up, giving warmth to his host, thus showing him that he was on his side.
"I'm sorry for bringing you to this topic. I just wanted your path to be easier. The main thing is not to despair, and you will find friends soon, I promise."
"I really hope so"Izuku exhaled, lost in his thoughts, but he also had questions for Fuyumi.
"Fuyumi-san, do you have friends?" Surprised by his question, Fuyumi remembered herself at his age, and like him, she didn't have many friends to boast about.
"Yes, I have friends. I can count colleagues, acquaintances, and people I studied with at university as friends. But I can truly trust only a couple of them." Snorting, Izuku envied her and her cheerful nature. He wanted to ask another question but was interrupted by her.
"I wasn't always this sociable. At your age, I also didn't have friends I could sincerely trust." The astonished teenager had no idea about this, which shocked him.
"But how? I thought with your character and influential family, you always had the opportunity to make friends." Fuyumi chuckled, fixing her hair. She was amused by how Izuku jumped from his seat, not believing her words.
"You're reacting too strongly. Sometimes what you listed doesn't always work the way you think. First, sit down and calm down; we have plenty of time to discuss everything." Slightly calming him, she accompanied his thoughts with her gaze.
"I haven't always been the way you know me now. If you had seen me back then, you would never have thought that I could become like this." The light in her eyes dimmed as she remembered not-so-great years, but that experience helped her become a teacher admired by many students, despite her young age and relatively recent debut in her teaching career.
"Where should I start so that everything is clear to you, Izuku?" Izuku pondered for a moment before asking her a question. He was very curious to learn about her. Overcoming his shyness, he decided to ask her about her past. Izuku also hoped to learn something new for himself and take her experience as an example for his own development as a person and as an individual.
"If it's not too difficult, could you tell me about your childhood until you became the person I know? I know it's too personal, and we've known each other for only 2.5 months, but I'm very interested." Blushing from his own request, he closed his eyes, embarrassed. Understanding her student's curiosity and inquisitiveness, Fuyumi did not reject his request. Accepting the fact that she would have to talk about the domestic violence that she and her family experienced when they were still children.
"Just promise that this will remain between us, and nobody else should know about it," Fuyumi said in a commanding tone, taking on a serious expression. Izuku opened his eyes and, not hiding his admiration, extended a clenched fist to her.
"I promise, Fuyumi-san, that I will keep this until my last breath." Nodding to him, Fuyumi was unaware that there was also a third listener she didn't know about.
"We need popcorn," Venom said with interest, grinning widely.
****
Being the first and only girl in the family, Fuyumi became a disappointment for Enji Todoroki. She was close to ideal; she had an ice quirk stronger than Rei's and a weaker quirk than Enji's. When she turned 4, she was taken to a special doctor to announce her quirk.
"Congratulations, Todoroki-san, your daughter is completely healthy and has a unique quirk," the doctor announced, observing the happy faces of Rei and Fuyumi, while Enji frowned, anticipating the doctor's announcement.
"Your daughter has inherited your best qualities, not only genetically but also in terms of quirks." Young Fuyumi was happy to hear how she was similar to her mom and dad. Jumping on the bed in joy, she hugged Rei's arm and, grabbing Enji's hand, brought them together, smiling wider.
Serious Enji was not particularly satisfied and, raising his gaze at the doctor, asked a question that would long remain in Fuyumi's memory.
"What is my daughter's quirk?" Fuyumi's joy dimmed, and Rei was worried, realizing that Fuyumi would repeat the same fate as Toya, who lived as a support for their mother. He persisted, just like Enji, trying to prove to himself and to him that he was worthy of becoming his student and successor.
"This is simply incredible. Your daughter has inherited an improved ice quirk from your wife and your heat quirk. This is an incredible combination." The doctor was happy for them, but Enji was on the verge of disappointment.
"A heat quirk is not what I wanted. She should have inherited my fire, not warmth," Enji thought to himself, but there remained hope that training with Fuyumi would allow her to use fire with the right approach.
"And what do you mean by a heat quirk?" The doctor panicked, seeing the stern gaze from the head of the family. Rei, who had been taken by Enji from her clan, understood that once Enji achieved his goal, he would pass her to another man for other purposes. This frightened her, even though Enji wasn't a loving husband at the beginning of their marriage, he didn't allow other men to harm her. She simply couldn't leave the family, for with the appearance of Toya and Fuyumi, she had found a purpose in raising her sons and daughter into worthy individuals, unconnected with quirk-related marriages.
"Your daughter has inherited your ability to manipulate heat and create it, just like you, Todoroki-san. But she cannot generate fire; in fact, her second quirk functions like a heater." Hearing about herself and how her father was interested in her, she tightly embraced his powerful arm. Upon hearing the expected, Enji forcefully pulled his arm away from the still very young Fuyumi.
"Dad?" Fuyumi asked, confused.
"Enji?" Rei looked at him in confusion. His gaze was heavy and frightening enough that she realized what kind of conversation awaited her at home.
"We're going home," he announced in a commanding tone. Fuyumi rubbed the edge of his pants in fear, trembling before her father.
"Dad, what about the amusement park you promised?" Tears were ready to spill from her eyes as her father's fear crushed her morally. Not allowing his daughter to cry, Rei picked her up and held her tightly.
"Don't worry, Fuyumi, dear, we will have time to go to the amusement park." Fuyumi's tears slightly disappeared, but her sniffling revealed her sadness. Snorting, Enji left the office, dissatisfied with yet another failure. He was labeled as number two, and he trained daily to surpass ALLMIGHT, but all attempts were in vain. Unaware of his future potential, blinded by his ambitions, he hoped that the future child would inherit the best from him and Rei.
Years passed, and Toya continued to diligently train with his quirk, not sparing any effort and neglecting his studies. To Endeavor, Toya was a failed experiment, but he didn't realize that he was unnecessary to him. He still believed that his father expected the best results from him and tried hard, persevering like Enji.
Fuyumi was also rejected by her father. The only daughter in the family, who needed love not only from her mother but also from her father, felt incomplete compared to other children at school. She didn't have many friends, and many feared her because of her older brother, who would send anyone who dared to hurt her to their grave. Many were afraid of her because of her lineage, as Endeavor was valued in the hero community as the strongest after ALLMIGHT and cruel. Fuyumi, like other children, wanted to socialize with new people, but she effectively became a hostage of her background. Even if people approached her to befriend her, it all came down to asking for an autograph from Endeavor or getting to know her cool older brother Toya. No one was interested in her, except for a couple of perverts at school who valued her figure more than her personality.
One day, while Rei was preparing dinner, Enji was training alone in the gym. Fuyumi was doing her homework in the kitchen until her studies were interrupted by Rei.
"Fuyumi, dear, call your father for dinner." A cold sweat ran down her body upon hearing about her father. Obeying her mother, she quietly walked towards the gym, where sounds of grunts and many strikes echoed. Each step echoed with fear, and as soon as she stood in front of the dojo door, she slightly opened the door to call her father for dinner, but seeing the entire gym engulfed in flames, Fuyumi was terrified by the sight.
"D-D-Dad, Mom called us for dinner," she called him with a trembling voice, but Enji was even more furiously hitting everything around him, destroying everything in sight. He didn't hear her voice and, unaware that Fuyumi was standing behind the door, lifted a 15-kilogram metal weight and threw it at the fireproof door, breaking it down. Too late to escape, the thrown object forcefully knocked down the door, pinning little seven-year-old Fuyumi underneath. In fear for her life, she began to cry, unable to get up. For the first time in her life, she felt fear before her father. He was a beast who spared no one, not even his wife and children. Trapped, Fuyumi cried, unable to rise from the weight of the door. A very fragile girl tried to use her quirk, but it only made things worse. In panic, the metal weight began to slowly slide from the door onto Fuyumi's head. The fire from Endeavor had not yet been extinguished on the piece of metal.
"Fuyumi?"
Hearing someone's female cries, Enji turned his head and, noticing a strand of white hair lying under the door, quickly extinguished his fire with all his might, trying to save her from the rolling piece of metal. Just a second before Fuyumi's face would have been disfigured, Endeavor managed to save her from death, but he was so consumed by his rage that he didn't notice how a random fire burned Fuyumi's eye.
Removing the door, he tried to embrace her, but due to the intense emotions of fear and pain in her eye, she couldn't use her quirk to push him away. Rei rushed in at the sound of crying, dropping everything she was doing, and seeing Fuyumi sobbing with her eyes covered by her hands, the mother immediately ran to her, embracing and comforting her. The commotion brought Toya running in from another room.
The negligence of their father led to a tragedy that Fuyumi would remember for a lifetime. If she had yelled louder, perhaps her father would have heard her, but out of fear, she paid the price with her eyesight.
"What happened?" Holding Fuyumi, Rei tightly embraced her daughter while she cried on her shoulder. Toya, seeing his little sister crying, quickly ran over to her, hugging her with all his might.
"Toya, look after your sister; I need to talk to your father," she said, trying to let go of her, but she met strong resistance from her daughter, and through her sobs, she managed to say incomprehensible words.
"M-M-Mom, don't... go... near... him; he'll kill you." Toya was shocked, and Rei looked at Enji with concern.
"What did you do?" she whispered, not taking her eyes off Enji. Rubbing his chin, Enji disappeared from view, returning to the training hall. He didn't answer them; he simply called for an ambulance, which arrived very soon.
The medical staff tried to establish contact with Fuyumi, but due to her strong emotions, she couldn't focus on the doctor until Enji's words made her look at the doctor.
"Your daughter didn't sustain any burns to her eyes, but her cornea was damaged. You need to see an ophthalmologist immediately before it gets worse."
The day became very significant for her and marked the first tragedy in the Todoroki family. Fuyumi would now have to wear glasses, no matter how uncomfortable they were.
****
Listening to all this, Izuku shed tears of empathy for his teacher. Upon seeing his tears, Fuyumi handed him a handkerchief with a sad expression on her face.
"Dry your tears, Izuku, they don't suit you." Lifting his chin, Fuyumi wiped away his tears and handed him a white handkerchief with red lines. Izuku clenched the handkerchief in his hand, unable to suppress the tremor in his voice.
"Fuyumi-san... I... I didn't know..." She smiled, but in her eyes lingered the shadow of the girl who had once been crushed by the door.
"Now you know why I wear glasses. Yes, without them I look more beautiful, but for me, these glasses have become something more." He suddenly stood up, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He knew that Endeavour was not only number one, but how could he treat his family this way? For Izuku, he had become the number one hero after All Might's betrayal, but now, having learned the full truth, he was also disappointed in him.
"Your father... he's just..."
"A monster?" Fuyumi finished for him, raising an eyebrow. She understood her student's indignation, but he did not know the whole truth to judge him.
"I understand that everything may seem different, since my father is currently the number one hero, but I ask you not to judge this man too quickly. Everyone deserves a second chance, and he took that chance." Wiping away the last tear from his cheek, Izuku steeled himself with the information about Enji Todoroki. He would keep this secret, as he had promised, but it felt awkward to remember how Endeavour had welcomed him as a hero at the doorstep of his home.
"What were your relationships with your father like after that?"
"I was just about to start talking about that."
****
Fuyumi developed a fear of her father after that. She began wearing her glasses and focusing on her studies. Years later, their family grew with the addition of Natsuo and Shoto. Analyzing her family, Fuyumi realized that her father was now happier spending time with the youngest member of the Todoroki family, namely Shoto.
He was favored not as a person but as a tool for achieving his goals. To avoid justifying his weakness, he also progressed in the hero world. He spent more time outside the home, and although young Fuyumi was glad he wasn't home often, she felt sadness that Rei missed Enji.
She didn't understand why her mother felt such warm feelings for him, and one day she decided to talk to her.
"Mom, can I ask you something?" Sitting down at the table opposite her, Fuyumi, during her teenage years, was experiencing a crisis of choice while studying at school. Throughout that time, she didn't know which path she would take after school. The choice seemed difficult to her, as her mother had been forced to become a housewife after school and didn't know how to help her daughter.
In contrast to her older brother, who chose a profession and would become a hero like their father to surpass him, she, on her part, did not aspire to heroism — she felt too gentle and feminine to pursue a profession full of violence and responsibility.
"Why do you still love Dad after everything he has done to us? He constantly ignored Toya, neglects me, treats Natsuo carelessly, and trains Shoto as if he were going to war the next day?" Fuyumi declared, unable to contain her indignation. Rei looked down, as if she were a shamed teenager.
"I'm not afraid of him, Fuyumi, but I'm afraid of going back to my clan." Fuyumi raised an eyebrow, not understanding what she meant, but her mother's sadness felt even stronger while she remained silent.
"What do you mean?"
"Just don't tell your father, but he loves you all very much and is proud of you." What she heard didn't please the only daughter of the Todoroki family, and she scoffed at those words from her mother.
"He? The man who almost killed me and the father who ignored Toya and hit you?" Not hiding her indignation, Fuyumi closed her eyes, resting her head on her hands.
"He's not a saint, but he has the desire to become a good father and husband." All the positive words directed at him seemed ridiculous to her, but there was sincerity and soul in her mother's voice that she didn't immediately grasp during their conversation.
"You see, he started going to therapy — that was my last request." A silence hung between them, which neither woman dared to break, but Fuyumi, wanting to know more, decided to intervene.
"Last request?" she asked anxiously. Her breathing quickened before she heard the shocking news.
"I'm leaving this family, Fuyumi." The echo of those words resonated in the young Todoroki's mind, and not believing her ears, her voice trembled.
"But why don't you love us, or did Dad make you leave?" Her eyes were welling up with tears, for the only warm light for her was herself. She did not have a higher education but possessed amazing qualities as an educator. She was the complete opposite of Enji; while Endeavor was hot-tempered and impulsive, Rei was considered a model of calmness and common sense, complementing each other not only in terms of quirks but also in character.
"I love you all, including your father, and caring for you is the meaning of my life. Taking care of you is my number one goal." Rei clutched her heart, dulling the heartache that loomed over her at the mere thought of leaving the family and returning to the clan.
"Just don't tell anyone about this, not even your brothers. It may seem to you that we married purely for love, but that's really not the case." The young Fuyumi remained silent, listening and wiping her newly formed tears.
"When I was in my clan, I was forcibly given into Enji's hands. It was a marriage of convenience: when I give birth to a child who has my quirk and Enji's quirk, the goal will be achieved. That was not enough for your father, and through his efforts, he was able to achieve the title of the number one hero." Continuing to remain silent, Fuyumi found herself unable to speak due to the shocking truth.
"Now that his goal is accomplished, I have no choice but to leave this family. The agreement from both sides has been fulfilled, and now if I leave, no sanctions will be imposed on me." The shocked, icy princess could not accept her mother's departure, and even the scene of her leaving the estate tore her heart apart. For when they were weak, defenseless, and unwanted by their father, she took full custody of the unwanted children.
"You have a choice, Mom. Why can't you stay here?" The tremor in her body was growing exponentially, and even Rei felt her quirk activating due to strong emotions.
"As long as I have this icy quirk and my heritage, I must obey the clan leader; otherwise, I will face punishment for disobedience." Fuyumi felt the ice beginning to spread across her fingers, clinging to the table as if trying to keep her mother here, in this house, in this family.
"Punishment?" Her voice trembled, becoming almost a whisper.
"What can they do to you? You're not a slave!" Rei lowered her gaze, her fingers clenched into fists, but not out of anger—out of helplessness.
"They can take away my quirk, Fuyumi."
Silence.
The ice on the table cracked.
"What?.." Fuyumi jumped up, the chair crashing to the floor.
"This is... this is impossible! A quirk cannot just be taken away!"
"My clan knows ways," Rei raised her eyes to her daughter, and in them was such deep sorrow that Fuyumi felt a real, primal fear for the first time in a long time.
"They did this to those who tried to escape. They stripped them of their powers... and then their lives." Fuyumi clutched her head. Her ears were ringing.
"But... but Dad! He's the number one hero! He can protect you! He..." She fell silent as she saw her mother slowly shaking her head.
"Even your father cannot annul this contract. The Himura clan is very dangerous, Fuyumi, and if I do not leave in time, all of you will be in danger." Throwing herself into her mother's arms, Fuyumi broke down in tears, hugging her tightly and not letting her go. Bitter tears flowed from Rei's eyes, but the longer this went on, the more she didn't want to leave this family.
"You know, I'm lucky, Fuyumi. My sisters were given into the hands of tyrants like dolls for breeding, and when they leave their families, they are handed over to other men with strong quirks, and so it continues endlessly until they can no longer give birth." Absorbing all this information, Fuyumi was shocked by what she heard, and compared to this, her father was still an angel.
"If you stop giving birth, will you return home?" Rei's tears flowed even more heavily from the weight of her next words.
"No, I will become a concubine and part of the harem of the strongest member of the clan. I really want to stay here; I don't want to leave. I want to live for all of you." Both were crying in each other's arms in the kitchen while everyone else slept, unaware of the difficult situation in their family.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"I want you to find your path in this life, my girl." Through her tears, she opened her eyes, catching her mother's gaze upon her. It felt awkward to see her mother trying to comfort her, as she considered herself strong, yet even so, she was fragile, like glass, ready to shatter with the slightest breath.
"You are independent, and you have the right to become whoever you want in this life. Shoto, Natsuo, and Toya have a father who will guide them, but when I spoke with Enji, he didn't know where to direct you."
"Don't misunderstand your father, but he cares for you all with all his heart, even if he doesn't show it. He is afraid for you, Fuyumi." Her heart ached from the blow, and her mind went blank, not understanding what was being said. She was the one afraid of him, and now her mother's words shattered all possible barriers.
"You are the only daughter in this family, and he values you more than anything, treating you in a special way. He is afraid for your future, Fuyumi."
Continuing to live in a Groundhog Day cycle, attending school and being at home, Fuyumi could not shake off her mother's thoughts and words about her path in life. The choice she would make would be decisive in her life. There were only a year and a half left until graduation, and she had no idea who she wanted to be in this life or whether she would be satisfied with it. All her life, the name Fuyumi meant nothing to people until they heard the surname Todoroki, and being held hostage by her genes, the opposite sex often paid attention to her for the sake of fame, wealth, and lineage.
Countless times her locker was stuffed with love letters that she ignored. At school, all the boys noticed her beauty, while most girls envied her genes. An extremely hot girl, both literally and figuratively, could not find any truly sincere friends with whom she could share her genuine feelings.
Not finding her place in this world, she often disappeared after classes, forgetting about schoolwork and family, being alone with herself. After long wanderings, lost in her thoughts, Fuyumi found a lawn and a young tree that grew next to a bench, far from people and worldly cares. She found a place where no one would disturb her.
The tree was very young and fragile, just like she was. Gazing at the half-alive and half-dead being, she sighed, offering it water that she kept with her.
"Are you also trying to find your place in this world?" The words were addressed to the tree, but the tree, as if alive, waved its leaves in the wind, communicating with her non-verbally. This brought a faint smile to Fuyumi's face as she sat on the bench, gazing at the horizon, keeping the tree company.
"Maybe I should just run away?" It seemed logical to her since she would not be a hostage of her origins, but her blood would still flow with Todoroki.
This tempting thought seduced her, but the logical side of her brain rejected it. Suddenly, the wind blew her hair, tousling it under the orange sunset. The tree made a threatening rustling sound, telling her that it was a foolish idea. Still, the thought remained in her mind, and she left this place, marking it as her little pocket world where no one would disturb her.
Every day after school, she came here and fed the tree with water so it would not dry out and die. She had to start taking an interest in biology to take care of the tree.
Every evening, this place became special for her. Gradually, her inner world expanded. In tranquility, she did her homework and assignments, despite the cold, snow, and other factors. She grew, just like this tree, gradually sending her roots deeper and deeper. Finding parallels, she understood what it meant to care for others, even though she realized that from the outside it looked awkward and even silly, but she was unconcerned with others' opinions.
The weak and young tree became powerful and strong. Once the wind would blow its stem, but now the bark was so thick that the air could not move it. Having grown to impressive sizes, like a living being, it tried to shield Fuyumi's eyes from the sun's rays, covering her with its branches and leaves, protecting her from outside factors.
She smiled at this, for this tree made her realize that care and sincerity bear fruit. After years, the question of career choice remained open, which greatly frustrated her. Having learned to show care to others, she reconciled with her past, but the question of the future remained open.
Remembering how, due to her fault, a classmate died because of a heteromorphic quirk called the "drop fish," she had no idea what responsibility meant, but after his death, she understood what it was. She had not paid much attention to it at a young age, but as she grew older, she realized that she was partially to blame for not supporting him at the crucial moment in his life.
After finishing school, she worked as a tutor to get into a prestigious archaeological university. Continuing to study under an elderly man, she absorbed all the experience and knowledge he passed on to her.
She became friends with him and even began to call him Grandpa; he didn't mind, as he loved teaching young, promising students who were ready to become valuable members of society. Time passed, and time spared no one, not even this old man, but Fuyumi remembered her last lesson with him, as if knowing it would be the last group lesson.
"I want to distract you, Fuyumi. I understand you are ambitious, but sometimes you lack confidence. Why?" Breathing deeply, the elderly man's heart was beating much slower than those of the other young people he taught.
"I don't understand what you mean?" she asked, as her nerves played a cruel joke on her.
"Oh, you know what I mean, young lady." He gave her a warm but sincere smile that could not hide his intentions. Giving in, Fuyumi poured out all her worries to the elderly man.
"I know what my goals are, but I would like to create something unique. Unfortunately, I am not an inventor, and I am not particularly knowledgeable in technology," she stated, lowering her head, embarrassed by her words. She had a talent in the humanities and a good foundation for development in this area. Like all young and intelligent people, she had a habit of doubting her goals, which was not uncommon for a man who had seen life and war.
"Oh, that's truly an amazing dream, but to create something unique, you don't have to be an inventor." Raising her head, she looked at her mentor with confusion, not realizing the meaning of his words.
"But how?"
"We all live for a short time, but we can leave ideas behind. A person is a fragile but adaptive being. Everything, of course, including inventions, will end, but an idea is an intangible force and knowledge that will never run out. It's like an Olympic torch that is passed from hand to hand." The old man slowly stood up from his chair, his bony fingers gripping the cane, but his eyes sparkled with youthful fire.
"You want to create something unique? Then create an *idea*," he pointed his cane at the floor as if marking an invisible point.
"Create a personality where those like you—those who are lost—can find themselves. Where no one will ask your surname and will appreciate Fuyumi." Fuyumi froze. In her mind, the image flared up—the very bench under the tree. A quiet corner that had become her refuge.
"But... how?" The old man laughed, and his laughter reminded her of the crackling of dry branches.
"You've already started. Didn't you turn a dying little tree into a giant?" He approached the window, where the leaves of that very tree rustled, now visible even from here.
"You know how to nurture. So, you can nurture not just plants, but also *people*." Fuyumi's heart began to race.
"Are you talking about... school?"
"No," the old man turned around, and suddenly in his gaze appeared a steely firmness.
"Schools teach obedience. You must build a *personality*. One where no one will be afraid to say, 'I don't know who I want to be.'" Somewhere in the distance, a bell rang. The lesson was over. The last lesson. Suddenly, the old man grabbed her hand, and his fingers, cold as ice, squeezed with unexpected strength.
"Fuyumi Todoroki. You are not your father. Not your mother. Not your clan. You are the one who gives *shade*. And one day, those who hid under it will become a forest." He let go of her, and at that moment, a loud crack sounded outside. A branch of their tree, old and dried up, fell to the ground.
A week later, the old man died. And Fuyumi submitted her documents not to the archaeological university but to the pedagogical university.
****
"And that's how I became a teacher after all the doubts, failures, and difficulties, Izuku-kun."
Izuku remained silent, unable to even comment on her story. He didn't understand why, after all this, she still treated him with kindness. Unable to look her in the eyes, he whispered softly, "Why are you so kind to me?"
She didn't respond but moved closer to him, placing her hand on his shoulder. Her green hair continued to flutter in the wind, and he felt slightly confused.
"Because it's my duty as a teacher, Izuku-kun. Heroes have their own creed—to protect people—and I have my own creed—to care for my students," she declared, no longer able to hold back her emotions. Izuku threw his arms around her with all his strength. She anticipated his movement and didn't resist, allowing him to express his feelings. Izuku's sobs could be heard on her jacket, and she felt the dampness. He needed the comfort he had long sought. Even though Izuku denied that he could manage on his own, like any other person, he needed support and love.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I thought your life was easier because you have a family and an amazing quirk, but I was wrong to think it all came easily to you," he said, burying his head in her body and crying over his prejudices about her.
Fuyumi opened her mouth slightly at Izuku's words but didn't respond, burying him deeper in her warm embrace.
"Izuku, promise me that you won't tell anyone what you've heard." Izuku broke the embrace and, wiping the tears from his face, he managed to say his promise in a trembling voice.
"I promise you, I will keep this secret for the rest of my life. I swear." He extended his fist for a fist bump, and understanding the friendly gesture, she tapped it.
"Is this how you always talk to people?" Fuyumi chuckled at Izuku's seriousness. Lightening the mood, she smiled, giving him a sincere smile that he would remember for a lifetime.
"No, only with you. Because I respect you, and I feel a duty to you that I cannot let you down or disappoint your expectations." The wind blew through their hair, and the leaves accompanied the silence between them. Seeing the determination in her student's eyes, Fuyumi realized that he could become a hero, if not a great one.
"If you need to talk, know that I'm more than just a teacher to you," she declared. Izuku's heart filled with warmth, and endorphins flooded his mind, making him feel joyful. She was magnificent in every way, and it would be unforgivable for Izuku to let her down.
"Be sincere with those close to you. And don't be afraid to tell the truth; I will understand and forgive if needed." Izuku felt a twinge of sadness, torn between the choice of revealing his other identity to her. He didn't know if she suspected anything about his other persona, which had already killed three people and who knows how many it had harmed. Clenching his fists and trembling, he wanted to tell her, but Venom wouldn't let his tongue move. Fuyumi, completely unaware, walked past Izuku toward the slope, but upon seeing him standing still, she became slightly worried.
"Izuku-kun, are you okay?" He turned to her and looked at her with sad eyes before saying,
"Fuyumi-san, I... I... I'm hungry." His stomach immediately growled in front of Fuyumi, making her laugh at the absurdity of the situation.
"Let's go, I'll treat you, but you owe me one." Izuku followed her, finally feeling like a person to someone close, not just a mistake.
"Thank you"
"Should I tell her the truth?"