Shoto Todoroki spent what seemed like an eternity staring at the grey slab of metal. He breathed heavily, as though he could somehow will himself into the room without first opening the door. What was he even thinking, coming here like that?

A hand touched his shoulder gently, and he looked back at the white haired woman.

“Everything’s going to be okay, my son.” Rei Todoroki nodded at him, before reaching for the door handle herself.

“Shoto…” a weak, raspy voice greeted him.

“Dad,” Todoroki replied quietly, resisting the urge to reach for the heavily bandaged man. “I’m… I’m glad y-you’re alright.”

“How’re you feeling now?” Rei asked in a much more composed voice.

“I can breathe on my own now, but my head feels foggy. I guess the anaesthesia still hasn’t worn off completely,” Endeavour replied, before turning his attention to Todoroki. “Thank you for saving me, Shoto.”

“When that letter arrived at your study, I took the chance to look at it. I thought you’d ignore it, but you didn’t. And then you just left without a word. I almost arrived too late to save you.”

Endeavour trembled as though he was crying, although no tears spilled out of his burnt tear ducts.

“I couldn’t move. It was just like before,” he said. “My child was going to die in front of me. And I… I froze. I failed again. All my regrets…my guilt… Everything. My heart is breaking.”

“What’s this about your heart?” Rei replied coldly. “Regret and guilt? We’ve felt it much more than you have. I came to talk to you about our family.”

“Mom?”

“You aren’t the only one suffering, Enji. Because you’re not the only one who overlooked our child,” Rei continued. “I’d always tried to keep up appearances because I was always too scared to get to the bottom of our pain. All I knew how to do was ignore the truth. But if I’d been able to knock some sense into Toya before he ran off to the mountain, he wouldn’t have turned into Dabi, and things might’ve been different between me and Shoto.”

“That’s not fair to you, Rei. I-”

“The responsibility is not yours to bear alone. Your heart may be broken, but we’re going to help you put it back together,” she said. “You have to be strong, Enji. Shoto has suffered so much more than we did, and yet he mustered the strength to start calling me ‘Mom’ again. He had every right to hate me, but he chose to forgive me.”

Endeavour laughed dryly. “How could I have been so blind? You have already far surpassed me, Shoto.”

“Just to be clear, I didn’t do this out of the kindness of my heart,” Todoroki said. “I only saved you because I couldn’t stop my body from rushing to a hero’s aid. No matter what you have done, you are still Endeavour, Japan’s Number One Hero.”

The hero shook his head slowly instead. “No, I’m no longer Endeavour. Right before you saved me, I was struck by a quirk deleter bullet. And besides, the doctors have told me that my body can no longer support my flames even if I eventually regain my powers. My past has killed me. Even if I survived the fight, Endeavour is dead.”

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Good.” Rei held her husband’s hand gently. “Then there will be nothing else distracting you from being Enji Todoroki.”

“You were always a woman of ice, Rei.” Enji chuckled softly. “But your words have warmed my heart.”

Todoroki moved in closer as he felt his mother’s arm hold his back as well.

“I stand by what I said. I won’t forgive Endeavour; he doesn’t deserve it,” the boy said. “But our family could use a father, even if we have lost a son. Those around us should not have to suffer from this endless cycle of hatred any longer.”

“My… family…” Enji Todoroki finally broke into tears, pressing against their warm embrace.

And they remained in each other’s arms for a long time.

~ ~ ~

The steel prison was dark and damp, with a musty smell that lingered stubbornly in the air. Concrete lined its walls, shielding its occupants from yet another tremor that would have crushed all of them, if not for the protective magic spells around it. Rows of people huddled together, some hiding their children under their robes in a feeble attempt to protect them.

But it was no use.

Yelps bursted all around the boy as the metal door groaned under the strain of whatever hit it. It buckled after a few more blows, and a tall figure covered the sunlight peeking through the bunker entrance.

The dim room lit up like a colourful disco as the people immediately charged magic into the staves, only for their spells to be reverted back to its natural purple state and absorbed into the menacing figure.

“Finally… I have enough power to- Hmm? So you are here as well.”

Felix Pagonis remained in his position among the corpses that surrounded him. Unlike his magic wielding brethren, his natural powers are not as easily taken. Still, he had already lost the will to fight the intruder.

“All For One… So you are the entity everyone has been so afraid of,” Felix said without emotion in his voice. “You sound younger than I remember.”

The white haired man stepped into the light, revealing his chiselled features that made him look like a mere thirty year old.

“You sound surprisingly amiable.” All For One grinned. “I thought you’d be a lot more angry to find out I took what remained of your sister’s essence too. No resurrections this time, I’m afraid. Unlike that man with a hole in his head, I made sure to take everything.”

The boy only chuckled softly in response. After all, Marcia was already long dead. There was nothing he could do about it, other than accept the punishment for all his sins.

“What’s this? Did those pathetic heroes in my world really break you?” All For One continued to taunt him. “You’re weaker than I thought. But anyhow, I really have to thank you for showing me your world. Your sister’s Arcani was the main catalyst to open a one-way warp gate. Your researchers showed me how to restore my youth and amass power by absorbing magic from your people.”

“Is this what all this is about?” Felix asked. “You’re just power hungry?”

“Of course not. If I recall correctly, you said your goal is to return home and destroy your world.” All For One flicked his hands, transmuting the bunker into a puddle of water. “Well, you’re home now, aren’t you? And I simply took the liberty of destroying your world for you. Isn’t this what you want anyway?”

Felix looked away with regret as the pale sunlight poured into the huge hole in the ground. All he wanted now was an eternity of silence to pay for his mistakes.

“Now all of reality is mine to wield.” All For One released a sinister laugh as a statue materialised in front of him. He snapped his fingers, and the metal transformed into screeching bats flying away.

“Farewell, foolish boy. And thank you once more for helping me get everything I want.” The villain bowed mockingly at him. “Maybe I’ll pay you a visit once I’ve taken One For All as well. After all, I now have enough power to cross the worlds whenever I please.”

He vanished, leaving behind nothing else but dust scattered in the wind.