(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
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U.A HIGH SCHOOL...
Midnight's voice echoed down the corridor.
"Bakugo—no—stop following me."
Rudra glanced back just in time to see Bakugo Katsuki pacing beside her like a furious shadow, waving a paper.
"...."
"I FIXED IT! JUST LISTEN!"
While Bakugo barked very confident like always.
Midnight stopped hearing her. Sighed. Deeply.
-Sigh
"…Fine."
She read it as her shoulders slumped as she muttered .
"…I hate that this actually works, Accepted."
Bakugo's face lit up and a sharp, feral grin split across his face as he pumped a fist.
-GRIN
"HELL YEAH!"
He spun on his heel and stormed off—victorious.
Midnight rubbed her temples.
-Sigh
"I'm going to regret this."
Rudra allowed himself the faintest smile—and continued on.
U.A. Cafeteria...
The atmosphere was lively.
At one of the tables sat an unusual group:
Present Mic, animated as ever. Lunch Rush, nodding proudly. Thirteen, listening with amused curiosity.
And in the middle of it all—
Jeremy.
"…I'm telling you,"
Jeremy said, leaning back with his tray,
"American hospitals? Busy. Efficient. Soul-crushingly boring."
Present Mic laughed loudly.
"YOOOO—SOUNDS ROUGH, MAN!"
Jeremy shrugged while smirking.
-Smirk
"Comes with the job. But back in school? Different story."
He tilted his head as he caught himself, grinning,
-Grin
"Professor Ra——I mean, him? Brutal. Quiet. Scary smart."
Lunch Rush hummed approvingly.
"...."
Jeremy continued, tone softening just a bit,
"But, best teacher I ever had. I didn't want to disappoint him."
Thirteen smiled looking at the Jeremy who seems to be quite a fanboy.
"You can hear the respect in that."
Jeremy chuckled scratching his back head in embarrassment.
"Yeah… guess I never outgrew it."
That's when he noticed Rudra.
"...."
"HEY! SIR—OVER HERE!"
Jeremy waved wildly.
Rudra approached, nodding to the group.
"...."
-Nod
After a few quick goodbyes and jokes, Jeremy grabbed his bag and hopped up.
"Ready when you are,"
They started toward the exit together.
Rudra's phone vibrated as he stopped.
Jeremy noticed immediately.
"Is it your girlfriend sir?"
Rudra looked down at the screen. A single message. From the hospital.
From Toya Todoroki.
"Are you free today…?Could you come see me?"
Rudra's expression shifted—subtle, unreadable.
"…Change of plans," he said quietly.
Jeremy followed his gaze, understanding without needing details as he asked in confusion.
"Hospital?"
Rudra nodded calmly.
Jeremy smiled—not playful this time, but steady.
"Go. I'll handle the paperwork prep. Just drop me at the association."
Rudra met his eyes once. Grateful.
As Rudra turned toward the exit, the campus buzzed behind him—students laughing, planning festivals, choosing names.
And somewhere in a quiet hospital room—A boy with burned skin waited.
Unaware that his life was about to change again.
HOSPITAL...
The hospital room was quiet. Too quiet.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Rudra and Jeremy stepped inside together—and immediately felt it.
On the bed sat a teenage boy, upright, back straight, hands resting loosely on his thighs.
He wasn't reading. He wasn't watching TV.
He was staring at a calendar taped to the wall.
A bright picture of a happy family—parents smiling, children laughing, frozen in a moment that felt unreal.
Toya Todoroki didn't blink.
"...."
Didn't move. He looked… absent.
Rudra took a step forward, about to speak—Jeremy raised a hand. Not abrupt. Not rude. Just… gentle.
"...."
"Wait,"
Jeremy said quietly as Rudra paused, immediately understanding.
Jeremy's gaze settled fully on Toya.
His quirk activated.
Mirror Emotion
The world shifted for Jeremy.
The room faded.
And suddenly—He wasn't standing anymore.
He was inside the weight Toya carried.
Loneliness. Confusion. A crushing, silent question that had no answer.
'Why can't I have that? Why does everyone else get it? What did I do wrong?'
No screaming rage. No hatred yet.
Just a hollow ache.
A child who had tried too hard. A boy who had burned himself just to be noticed. Someone who still—somehow—wanted to be loved.
Jeremy's throat tightened as his eyes grew wet.
"…Damn,"
He whispered under his breath. He could feel it all.
The disappointment. The self-blame. The loneliness that never left—even when people were around.
Toya finally stirred. Slowly, he turned his head toward them.
"…You came,"
He said softly snapping out of his thought. Rudra nodded.
-Nod
"I said I would."
Toya glanced at Jeremy, curious.
"Who's he?"
Jeremy swallowed, steadying himself as he introduced calmly.
-Gulp
"My name's Jeremy, I help people who've been hurt… in ways doctors don't always see."
Toya looked back at the calendar as he muttered.
"…Then you must be busy,"
Jeremy took a step closer—but didn't invade his space.
"You're not broken,"
Jeremy said gently like he understood Toya.
"You're hurting. There's a difference."
That made Toya finally look at him. Really look as he said.
"…You don't even know me,"
Jeremy met his eyes—open, honest, still damp.
"...."
"I know what it feels like, to wonder why love feels like something other people get."
Silence settled between them.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Heavy. But not suffocating.
Rudra watched from the side, saying nothing.
This wasn't his moment.
This was the beginning of healing—and it had to start with someone who could truly feel the pain before trying to fix it.
Jeremy took a slow breath.
"If you're willing, I'd like to help you. Not as a hero. Not as an experiment. As a person."
Toya didn't answer right away.
But his gaze drifted once more to the calendar—Then away from it.
"…Okay,"
Toya's fingers tightened around the bedsheet.
The distant look in his eyes shattered—replaced by urgency then he spoke suddenly.
"…There's something,"
Rudra looked up.
Toya turned fully toward him now, eyes trembling with hope while he whispered.
"Can I… meet my mom? I—I need to say sorry. About that day. I lost control… I said things I shouldn't have."
His voice cracked when the words came out of his mouth.
"I want her forgiveness."
The room went still.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Jeremy's chest tightened—but he said nothing since he was using his quirk.
Rudra didn't answer right away. He knew.
"...."
According to everything he remembered, Endeavor and his wife were no longer living together.
After the Toya incident, the family had fractured—physically and emotionally.
Toya didn't know that. Not yet. Rudra finally nodded and replied honestly.
-Nod
"…I'll try,"
Relief washed over Toya's face so fast it almost hurt to watch as he whispered.
"Thank you,"
Rudra stepped aside and pulled out his phone.
"...."
He scrolled once—then called.
Phone Call
The line connected.
-Ring. -Ring. -Ring.
-Ring. -Ring.
"Toshinori speaking,"
Came the familiar voice of All Might.
"I need an address,"
Rudra said calmly asking his question.
"Rei Todoroki. Where is she staying right now?"
There was a long silence on the other end.
"...."
"…Why, do you need Rei Todoroki's address?"
All Might asked slowly, carefully, Rudra didn't answer immediately.
Behind him, Toya sat straighter, breath held.
Jeremy watched All Might's reaction unfold purely through Rudra's expression—and didn't like what he saw.
All Might's mind was already racing.
'Did Endeavor do something?'
"Rudra, you need to tell me why you're asking that."
All Might said, voice suddenly tense,
Rudra looked back at Toya.
At the hope in his eyes. Then spoke quietly into the phone.
"…Because her son wants to apologize to her."
Silence. Absolute.
On the other end of the call, All Might stopped breathing for a full second.
"…That's not possible,"
He whispered while thinking did something happened between these two.
Rudra's voice didn't change.
"It is."
And just like that—A truth long buried.
Rudra let out a slow breath and spoke into the phone as he explained.
"Come to the hospital, I'll explain everything there."
He ended the call and turned back to the room.
Toya was no longer staring at the calendar.
He was talking—quietly, hesitantly—with Jeremy, who sat on the edge of the visitor's chair, leaning forward with genuine interest. It didn't look like a doctor and a patient.
It looked like two brothers talking late at night.
Jeremy nodded along, occasionally smiling, occasionally going quiet when Toya's voice wavered.
-Nod
"…I thought it was my fault,"
Toya was saying softly.
"That if I just tried harder…"
Jeremy didn't interrupt. He just listened.
"...."
Rudra watched for a moment—then stepped back, giving them space.
Thirty Minutes Later...
The door slid open hard. Heavy footsteps. A familiar towering figure froze in the doorway.
All Might stared into the room. At the boy on the bed.
Burn scars. White hair. Blue eyes.
His first thought came instantly.
'Endeavor's son…?'
No. That couldn't be right. That child was dead.
He swallowed and forced a smile, stepping forward.
-Gulp
"I—ah—good afternoon, I'm—"
All Might said, trying to sound normal.
Rudra didn't let him finish as he introduced Toya and All Might to each other.
"Toshinori, this is Toya Todoroki."
The words hit like a sledgehammer.
All Might's eyes widened. His knees buckled.
"...."
"…Huh?"
And then—
THUD.
All Might fainted flat on his back.
Jeremy shot up instantly.
"—OKAY, THAT'S NOT IDEAL."
Toya jolted looking at the fainted All Might confusedly.
"I—did I say something wrong?!"
Rudra sighed deeply.
-Sigh
"…No. This reaction was expected."
A Few Minutes Later...
All Might sat upright on a chair, holding a cup of water with shaking hands.
"…You're telling me,"
He said slowly, staring at Toya like he might vanish,
"…that Endeavor's son is alive."
"Yes," Rudra replied immediately helping All Might to stand up.
Only a handful of people had ever known what really happened to Toya. All Might was one of them.
The truth had been buried for years.
All Might suddenly lit up, emotions rushing in all at once. As he reached for his phone.
"Then I need to—! Endeavor has to know—!"
Rudra caught his wrist. Firm. Unyielding.
"No."
All Might froze caught off guard by Rudra's response.
Rudra's voice stayed calm—but heavy.
"Not yet."
He gestured toward Toya, who had gone quiet again, fingers gripping the blanket as he continued.
"He's dealing with severe physical trauma, Long-term mental conditioning. And emotional wounds that never healed—because no one was there to help him heal them."
All Might slowly lowered his phone.
Jeremy spoke up gently.
"He's not ready, And honestly? Neither is Endeavor."
Toya looked between them, confusion creeping in as he asked carefully.
"…My dad? Is he…?"
Rudra didn't answer that question.
Not yet. All Might clenched his fists, guilt flashing across his face and whispered.
"…I almost told him, I almost dragged him into this without thinking."
Rudra nodded seriously.
"That's why I stopped you."
The room fell quiet.
"...."
Finally, All Might looked at Toya again—really looked.
Not as a symbol. Not as a secret.
As a boy who survived something he never should have.
"…You're alive,"
All Might said softly.
"And that means… we still have a chance to do this right."
Toya didn't smile just looked at him then turned away.
Thirty Minutes Later...
Outside the Apartment...
The car came to a slow stop. No one moved.
Before them stood a quiet apartment building—ordinary, unremarkable. The kind of place you'd never look twice at. And yet, for the boy standing there now, it felt heavier than any battlefield.
Toya Todoroki stared at the door across the hallway.
"...."
Behind it was his mother. Rei Todoroki.
She had only recently been discharged from the mental institute.
Therapy appointments every two days. Careful routines. Fragile progress.
All Might stood a step behind Toya—and somehow looked even more nervous than the boy himself.
His massive hands flexed and unflexed.
"I… explained to him,"
All Might said quietly, breaking the silence.
"Why she doesn't live at the main house. What happened after you… disappeared."
Toya swallowed feeling down at what he had caused and spoke softly.
"And… my little brother?"
All Might hesitated hearing Toya's words and carefully chose his words.
"…He's alive, But… things changed. For all of them."
The words settled heavily.
Guilt bloomed in Toya's chest—not sharp, not crushing—but deep. The kind that lingered.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Finally Toya broke the silence while muttering to himself.
"I didn't mean to hurt anyone, I just… wanted to be seen."
Jeremy placed a hand on his shoulder as he spoke frimly.
"You were a kid, The responsibility never belonged to you."
Rudra nodded once.
-Nod
"You can't change what happened, But you can decide what happens next."
Toya closed his eyes. He breathed in. Then out. Then spoke quietly.
"…I'll be stronger, Not with fire. Not with anger."
He opened his eyes again.
"With choice."
All Might felt his throat tighten worried about the young man who was carrying a guilt.
'He shouldn't have had to learn this lesson at all,'
They stepped up to the door.
Rudra raised his hand—Then stopped.
"This is your moment, We won't speak unless you want us to."
Jeremy stepped back with him. All Might followed, giving Toya space.
The hallway fell silent.
"...."
"...."
"...."
No reporters. No heroes. No villains.
Just a son. And a mother.
Toya lifted his hand. It trembled and then steadied. He knocked.
-Knock -Knock
Once. Twice.
And waited. Behind the door, footsteps approached.
-Creak
The door opened. A woman stood there—slender, pale, eyes cautious from years of learning how to breathe again.
Rei Todoroki looked at the unfamiliar faces in front of her. Strangers.
"...."
Her gaze shifted—and stopped.
"…All Might?"
She asked softly, confusion flickering across her face.
"Why are you—?"
Then her eyes moved again.
To the young man standing just ahead of the others.
White hair. Different build. Burn scars tracing his face, his neck, his hands.
"...."
She didn't recognize him. How could she?
Years had passed. Pain had reshaped him.
Rei frowned slightly, uncertainty rising—And then he spoke.
-Frown
"…Mom."
The word was barely louder than a breath. Rei froze.
"...."
Her eyes widened in horror and disbelief as she whispered, stumbling back a step.
"…No, That's not— that's not possible…"
Her gaze locked onto his face—really looked this time.
The eyes. The voice.
The way he stood when he was scared.
"…Toya?"
She breathed. Her hands flew to her mouth as tears welled instantly.
"…How is this possible…?"
She murmured again and again, shaking her head as if the world had broken its rules.
Her eyes dropped—To the burn marks.
The scars. The proof of everything he had suffered.
A broken sound escaped her throat as she whispered.
"Oh my baby…"
Toya took a shaky step forward his said, voice cracking.
"I—I'm sorry, I lost control that day. I hurt everyone. I just wanted—"
He didn't get to finish. Rei rushed forward.
She wrapped her arms around him with desperate strength, as if afraid he might disappear if she let go.
"My son—my son—"
She sobbed, pressing her face into his shoulder.
-Sob -Sob
"You're alive… you're really alive…"
Toya stiffened for a heartbeat—Then collapsed into the hug, arms slowly lifting to hold her back as he whispered.
"I'm here, I'm really here."
They held each other in the doorway, tears soaking fabric, years of grief and guilt spilling out all at once.
Behind them—All Might stood silent, eyes turned away, jaw tight.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Rudra didn't move.
Jeremy quietly wiped at his own eyes, saying nothing.
This wasn't a moment for heroes.
Or symbols. Or explanations.
It was a mother holding the son she had mourned.
The apartment felt warmer now.
Rei moved about the small kitchen with a nervous kind of energy, hands trembling just slightly as she prepared tea.
She kept glancing back—at Toya sitting on the sofa, alive, real—as if afraid he might vanish the moment she looked away.
When she finally sat down, she placed the cups carefully in front of everyone, smiling through lingering tears as Rei Todoroki spoke softly.
"I still… I still can't believe it, You're really here."
Toya nodded, fingers wrapped around the warm cup.
-Nod
"…I am."
Rudra waited until Rei had settled, then spoke—calm, measured, respectful as he said.
"Mrs.Rei, you deserve to know what actually happened."
Her smile faded as she turned to him, listening intently as he continued.
"Toya didn't die that day, He was found alive—but barely. He was in a long coma."
Rei's hand flew to her mouth.
"...."
While Rudra continued.
"He was taken, by a villain posing as a doctor. Kyudai Garaki. The same one me and Aizawa captured recently. He experimented on children,"
Rudra went on, voice steady but cold.
"Toya was one of them. He was kept hidden, isolated, conditioned."
Rei's eyes filled again, tears spilling over silently.
"…All these years, Alone…"
While Rudra explained to them.
"He was rescued until recently, Aizawa Shouta and I arrested Garaki. That's how we found him."
Rei bowed her head, hands shaking in her lap as she spoke quitly
"Why… why didn't anyone tell us?"
All Might spoke gently this time since Rudra has already explained why he hid about Toya.
"Because of Toya's condition, Physically, mentally… emotionally. Revealing him to the public—or even to family too quickly—could have harmed him."
Rudra nodded and joined All Might to explain.
"That's why we kept it quiet. And why… we believe it's not safe for him to meet Endeavor yet."
The words landed heavily.
Rei's shoulders slumped as she muttered.
"…Enji,"
She looked at Toya, pain and longing colliding in her expression as she spoke softly.
"I want you to see your father,I do. But not like this. Not when you're still hurting."
Toya lowered his gaze while he spoke quietly.
"I don't hate him, But I'm not ready. Every time I think about him… it hurts."
Rei reached out and took his hand.
"That's okay,"
She said, squeezing it gently.
"You don't have to be ready today."
Rudra watched the two of them for a moment, then spoke again.
"This isn't about punishment, It's about healing. Step by step."
Rei nodded slowly, wiping her tears she said to all of them.
-Nod
"…Thank you, For bringing my son back to me. Even if only like this… for now."
The room fell into a quiet, fragile peace. Tea steamed gently on the table.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N):
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give a review!!! And power stone too!!!
Guys it will motivate me more?