PHOENIX: A Pro Hero Toya Todoroki AU

Chapter 1: MONTAGE

(Year: Early 2117)

It's the first day of my repeated year, and not a single person even looks in my direction. The reputation I built for myself isn't exactly helping; I'd nearly incinerated another student who was talking shit about my sister last semester. He deserved it; it's a shame he wasn't in the ICU after what he said. Nevertheless, every single person in the Private Hero Training Academy avoided me like the plague. I skipped orientation this year, thinking it wasn't worth it. I'd just be paired with yet another loser who would always find an excuse to not be my roommate and switch out; I didn't care to make friends anymore.

I sit quietly at the smallest table in the corner of the cafeteria, my hair falling over my eyes as I stare emptily into the bowl of noodles. I shove it to the side; I'm not in the mood to eat anything right now. Tears prick my eyes as I think about what happened when I was home last week.

"IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT! IF YOU WEREN'T SO DAMN WEAK HE WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT!" My father bellowed at our mother as Natsuo, Fuyumi, and I struggled to keep Shoto sheltered from the noise of the violent slaps that echoed through the house.

"HE KNOWS NO DISCIPLINE!"

SMACK!

"HE KNOWS NO MANNERS!"

SMACK!

"HE IS A FAILED EXPERIMENT!"

SMACK!

I suddenly break down and put my head on the table, resting my forehead on my arms so no one will see my tears. 'I wish I didn't exist anymore.' I think to myself...

...

...

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

A rapping noise echoes on the wooden table.

"Hey, you're Toya, right?" A sprightly voice calls. I keep my head down, staring at the darkness that I formed in the shelter of my arms. I try to keep my body still so they can't notice I'm crying, and I struggle to stop.

"Who wants to know?" I gripe, keeping my voice steady.

"Oh, I'm Keigo Takami! I'm your roomie this year! Hey, are you okay? Or just tired? Hope I didn't wake you up," Keigo laughs.

"Are you new or something?" I snap, not in the mood to talk.

"How'd you guess?! Yeah! I'm a first-year! Ready to become a hero! Anyway, is it okay if I sit here? I don't really know anyone yet." Before I can say anything, I feel him sit down next to me.

"Are you gonna eat your food?"

"Not hungry," I say flatly. I briefly activate my Quirk on my face so all the tears evaporate, but no one can see it the way I have my head down.

"Then why'd you get it?"

"You ask a lot of damn questions don't you," I growl before raising my head to look at him. Keigo Takami's Quirk is obvious at first glance. The fifteen-year-old sports an elegant pair of feathered, red wings on his back. He returns my glare with a bright smile, and an emotion I've never felt before rips through my entire body.

"Are you not scared of me?" I ask, indignantly, but, once again, Takami just returns my venom with warm, caring eyes.

"Why would I be scared of you? Hey, did you know your hair is turning white?" Keigo points to the white streaks that pepper my crimson hair.

"Stress. And my mom's Quirk." I mumble, suddenly wishing I had a hood that I could pull up to hide it.

"Oh. That's cool. I guess. Hey, you sure you don't wanna eat anything? You can have half of my sandwich!" He extends half of his PB&J to me, but I put my head back down. Keigo shrugs, and, then, his eyes light up.