Serendipity

novelty

He's only seen pictures of them, like a legend he was never sure was true. Truthfully, it's a miracle Endeavor had slipped enough to allow for any evidence of their existence. All any detectives were able to find, though, is a single childhood picture of Endeavor's other three children, and a few old news articles on Rei, speculating how far into a relationship she and Endeavor were.

They look much older, in person, but he guesses it has been nearly a decade since that picture was taken. Growth is only normal.

"It's so nice to finally meet," Tsukauchi smiles, holding his hand out. Fuyumi is the first to shake it, smiling despite knowing why they're there. Natsuo and Rei follow suit, shaking Aizawa's hand, too.

He's not sure exactly how Tsukauchi pulled this, how he even figured out how to contact Endeavor's family with only little leads like a picture. But, apparently Rei Todoroki is taking up residence in a mental hospital, he was hesitant to meet her at all, once he learned why.

Because no mother should scar her son like that, no human should hurt another human like that. What might've been a mental breakdown and getting help for years and years, for her, is a permanent lesson to stop trusting, on Shouto's face. And now he lives half blind because of it.

But he tries to keep his anger in, for Shouto's sake. If they can't get answers from these people, the courts can overrule it all and decide they're lying. Worse, Endeavor might try blackmailing them and using them to lie.

As they all sit in Tsukauchi's office, Fuyumi seems to make sure her mother and brother are comfortable, scanning their faces and asking if they want to switch seats or anything like that. Tsukauchi's setting up his recorder, clearing his throat and such.

"I'm sorry to ask you here so close to a big holiday, whether you celebrate or not." He presses a button and a beep sounds. "I know how traffic can be, so close to Christmas."

"Oh, it was hardly anything. Natsuo loves driving, even if he does have road rage," she laughs, Natsuo crosses his arms and keeps his gaze steel.

"Well, that certainly makes me feel better," Tsukauchi laughs, sitting straight and tapping a blunt fingernail on his desk. "Did you three need anything? We've got water and vending machines down the hall, one of our interns can bring you-"

"Get on with it," Natsuo demands, voice tight. "We know we're here because Endeavor's finally gonna get what he deserves," there's a little lift to his voice, there, like joy. "And you guys need us to answer questions. Let's not act like this is just some meet and greet with Endeavor's secret family."

"Natsuo," Fuyumi scolds, but there are no repercussions.

Tsukauchi turns serious, "Alright, let's start then."

They go through introductions when the recording starts, each stating their name and connection to Endeavor. Then, Tsukauchi states what they're there for, how it will work, and officially starts the questioning.

"We'd like to know what age Shouto was when Enji first started to abuse him. If you have any details on the abuse, that would be great, too."

Fuyumi and Natsuo both look to their mother, for that. They must've been too young to remember.

So, Rei starts. "Enji always knew what kind of quirk Shouto would have, so he kept a close eye on how I fed him and how his health was. He started training Shouto in martial arts as soon as he turned three. But he first really acknowledged Shouto when he was four, and his quirk manifested as ice and fire."

"That's when the quirk training started, I'm not sure what the definition of abuse is, or if this falls under it, but Shouto was just four, fighting a grown man. Enji didn't take it easy on him. Shouto would come back to me late at night with bruises and burns, and... on bad days he'd get frostbite from his own quirk."