(Kata POV – Hospital Room)
The disappearance of their flames is sudden, like someone flipping a switch.
And immediately, all eyes turn to me.
I don't react, my arms folded as I return the room's temperature to a normal level.
Endeavour's expression furrows immediately as he finally notices me.
First comes recognition… then irritation.
"You…" He says, his voice low. "You again."
His gaze hardens.
"Don't interfere. This does not concern you." He says, his voice carrying unquestionable authority. "Leave."
I raise a brow. 'That's… almost amusing.'
"Just like how preventing the hospital from burning down during your outburst wasn't my business?" I reply calmly, tilting my head and bringing attention to the room. "You're welcome, by the way."
His eye twitches.
"And more importantly…" I continue, my tone even. "I'm the one currently detaining Dabi." I glance briefly at him, once more restrained. "So if anyone's interfering here… it's you."
The room goes so silent that you could hear a pin drop.
"If you want me to leave, that's fine." I add with a shrug. "But Dabi comes with me."
Endeavour's flames flare slightly in response to his mounting discontent.
Right now, Dabi is entirely immobile, unable to use his quirk. The only reason he was able to use it earlier, was because I allowed it.
'I'm glad I did, since I could observe a quirk awakening.' I think contentedly. 'I think I could awaken someone's quirk now.'
I know it wouldn't work for me, since my quirk is no longer physical, but it would be a huge boost in strength for anyone else.
The thought lasts less than a second before I refocus on Endeavour.
"You're a student." Endeavour says in a firm tone. "You have no jurisdiction to detain villains."
His gaze sharpens further. "Nor is it legal to use your quirk without authorization."
His words carry both a warning and threat.
I shrug.
"I'm interning under Mirko, right now." I reply. "And she's aware of what I'm doing."
His brow furrows in surprise, and before he can speak…
"Anything else?" I ask, looking bored.
"This is a family matter." He says next.
I blink, then tilt my head slightly.
"…And?" I ask flatly. "Why should that matter to me?" I muse. "Besides, from what I've seen, you've already decided he isn't your family."
My gaze flicks briefly toward Dabi. "Family or not, he's still a villain."
I look back at Endeavour.
"And currently… my responsibility."
The tension in the air is thick enough to cut with a knife, but I remain unconcerned.
"I advise you step down." He says slowly. "Or there will be consequences…"
"Like what?" I ask curiously. "You'll attack me?"
A faint smile tugs at the corner of my lips.
"That didn't go very well for you last time."
"Last time?" Shoto's voice cuts in, filled with shock and confusion as he looks between us. "What do you mean by that?"
Endeavour doesn't answer. He doesn't even look at him.
His gaze remains firmly locked on me, simmering with rage.
"I'm not intimidated by you." I say plainly. "And if you try something, I will defend myself…"
I stare at him deeply, my gaze carrying no emotion except absolute certainty. "And I won't hold back this time."
"Are you threatening me?" Endeavour asks challengingly, maybe hoping I am.
I tilt my head slightly. "You see self-defense as a threat?"
I roll my eyes at his immaturity, before letting out a tired sigh.
"Let's not pretend this is something it's not." My gaze meets his evenly. "I don't care enough to humour your nonsense."
My gaze sweeps across the room, identifying Rei's trembling hands, Fuyumi's teary eyes, Natsuo's tight jaw, Shoto's rigid posture…
And then settles back on Endeavour.
"Despite calling yourself a hero…" I say evenly. "You've managed to be more of a villain to everyone in this room than any actual villain."
No one argues, interrupts, or even tries to defend him.
That silence says more than anything else.
Endeavour scoffs. It's harsh and dismissive, but also carries flicker of irritation beneath it.
"What would you know?" He snaps. "In my pursuit of the top, sacrifices are necessary. Everything I've done… everything… was for that purpose."
His flames flicker restlessly. "I did what had to be done. Even if it meant spending less time with my family and pushing Shoto to excel."
"I might've agreed if your actions actually brought you any closer to your goal." I shake my head disapprovingly. "But they accomplished the opposite."
His eyes blaze with fury, and I meet them calmly.
"You will never surpass All Might." I continue, not giving him a second to counter. "And it has nothing to do with strength."
"What are you—" He begins, when I cut him off.
"You lack the right character." I say.
"Shut your mouth." His voice rises now, pride laced through every syllable. "Even if I couldn't surpass him… Shoto will."
His gaze flicks to his son, burning with obsessiveness and desperation, bordering on mania.
"He will become strong enough to stand above All Might." Endeavour declares confidently. "And when that time comes… I'll have won."
"I've already beaten All Might in a fight." I say plainly.
Endeavour freezes, looking at me in shock.
"…What?" Endeavour's voice asks in confusion, but I don't dwell on it.
"That doesn't make me the Number One Hero." I scoff. "Because strength alone isn't what made him the Symbol of Peace."
I recall everything I know about All Might, constructing my next words carefully.
"He reassures people." I begin, almost hearing his catchphrase booming in my ears.
"He makes them feel safe and protected. Smiling through any challenge." I sigh, my gaze briefly moving towards the rest of his family.
"And yet… to your family, you've achieved the opposite. And I doubt making them feel safe is something you could ever do."
Giving him a piercing gaze, I ask my final question.
"How could you inspire and protect Japan, when your own family can't even feel safe in your presence?"
My words cut deep, penetrating his ego as he finally begins to listen.
For the first time since he entered the room he stops and actually sees those around him.
His eyes move, truly seeing his family.
Rei. The wife he cast aside, labelled as crazy and shunned.
Fuyumi. His only daughter, who cares so much about the family, that she alone keeps trying to repair it.
Natsuo. A son who's come to despise him for the choices he's made.
Shoto. His masterpiece… the child he placed all his ambitions and burdens upon.
Not one of them looks at him with trust.
Not one of them looks relieved that he's here.
Fear.
Pain.
Distance.
His jaw tightens.
"If All Might stepped down right now…" I continue, voice quiet but firm. "Could you stand in his place?"
He doesn't answer.
"Could you calm the people of Japan as villains threaten their livelihoods?"
His hands ball into fists, clenching tightly.
"Could you ever make them feel safe?"
He opens his mouth… and stops.
No words are said as the silence stretches on.
His flames flicker unevenly, betraying the conflict beneath the surface.
'So he can be reasoned with.'
Deciding that the silence has persisted long enough, I speak first, unwilling to wait indefinitely.
"Anyway." I say plainly. "This isn't really about your past mistakes." I gesture slightly toward Dabi. "I need you to make a decision."
"What do you want?" He asks in a low voice, but it lacks the hostility it held prior.
"Are you going to arrange for him to be detained somewhere his family can see him… or should I send him directly to Tartarus?"
"Regardless, he'll spend the rest of his life behind bars. Nothing can pardon his crimes." I continue. "But this is about them." I look towards the rest of his family.
They watch on in tense silence. Right now, Endeavour must choose.
Either his family, or his career. And in the process, deny or face the misdeeds of his past.
After a few seconds, and before he can speak, a soft voice breaks through.
"E-Enji…" Rei's voice trembles. It's soft and hesitant. Her hand presses against her chest, fingers curled into the fabric of her shirt. "I know… Toya has to face the consequences of what he's done…"
"But… if it's possible…" She closes her eyes, taking a deep breath, and meeting his gaze with steadfast determination and hope. "…please… help us be able to see him."
"Dad…" Fuyumi steps forward next, her voice wavering despite her effort to steady it. "I agree with Mom."
Even as tears gather at the corners of her eyes, she doesn't look away. "We already lost Toya once, and… I don't want to lose him again."
Behind her, Natsuo's fists clench at his sides, his expression twisted with conflict, while Shoto remains still.
His eyes are fixed on Endeavour, waiting to see, if maybe his father would for once, choose them.
**********
A/N: Hello Everyone! How are you all? If you've enjoyed the chapter and book thus far, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or power stones. It really helps the book out.
I'll be honest, this chapter have me hell😭. I wanted to finish everything here, but I couldn't continue. Rather than content itself, it was more my internal processing that got messed up.
I'm imagining everyone in this room, Endeavour in front of Dabi, facing off against Kata, and the rest of the Todoroki's together by Rei. What was draining me was the dialogue. Normally I like having actions break up stuff, or flow, and everyone was kinda just... Standing there. Completely destroyed my rhythm.
And I considered just pushing through, but... That wouldn't be fair to the book😮💨. So, I'm deferring that to the next chapter (which, will be Endeavour making a choice, then Timeskip to I-Island, cause I'm also tired of this arc, as well as summaries of things that happen between).
You can also read 10 chapters ahead and support me at Patreon.com/AMV_WEALKY
I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and have a wonderful rest of your day/night 🌃.