Chapter 18

466 14 1
                                    

"Hitoshi!" His mother scolds him as his father finally stops coughing.

"What? I'm right, aren't I?" Shinsou retorts, annoyed. Denki stares at him, wide-eyed.

Aizawa sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose before nodding in agreement.

Shinsou looks at his parents with a mix of sadness and frustration. "Why did you lie to me?" His voice cracks with emotion.

"For the sake of the future," Aizawa explains. "Nedzu said it's better this way. If anyone were to find out, it might change the future drastically."

"Wow... mind blown..." Denki whispers, clearly shocked. Eri and Hikki re-enter the room, Eri's eyes widening with worry.

"Nii-chan! Why are you crying?" she asks, running towards her big brother and throwing herself into his lap. She holds his face and wipes away his tears, while Shinsou chuckles softly.

"I'm fine, Eri," he reassures her gently.

"But you're crying," she persists.

"Don't worry," Shinsou reassures her, offering her a comforting smile.

Eri pouts, her bottom lip protruding in a display of discontent.

Shinsou gently turns her around, so she's now sitting with her back against his chest. He wraps his arms around her and plants a tender kiss on her head, eliciting a giggle from Eri. Denki watches the tender moment with affection.

"Is everything alright?" Hikki's voice breaks the silence, her presence tentative as she lingers near the doorway.

"They know. Hitoshi figured it out," Aizawa informs her.

Hikki remains in the doorway, her expression a mix of anxiety and uncertainty.

"It's okay, sweetie. Come here," Mailin gestures for her to join them, and Hikki hesitantly takes a seat next to her grandmother.

"How did you figure it out?" Denki turns to Shinsou, curiosity lacing his words.

"I had my suspicions. Then Hato called the twins 'Todoroki' and referred to Midoriya as 'Uncle Izuku'. It became obvious after that," Shinsou explains.

"So, what is Hikki's connection to us? Why do we feel so protective of her?" Denki's confusion is evident in his tone.

"Denki, take a closer look at her. Who does she remind you of?" Shinsou prompts him. Denki furrows his brow, deep in thought.

"She looks like me, I suppose. But her eyes, they're like yours," Denki observes.

"And?" Shinsou prompts further.

"Her quirk is like ours combined."

Denki's expression shifts as realization dawns on him. He shoots up from his seat, eyes widening in shock.

"She's our daughter?!" he exclaims.

Hikki giggles, confirming his suspicion. Denki's face flushes crimson, and he starts to emit sparks as he becomes overwhelmed, eventually fainting from the revelation.

"Pikachu!"

"Denki!"

"Papa!"

Aizawa shakes his head but can't help but grin at the playful exchange.

Back at the Todoroki residence, Natsuo blinks at Setsuko's slip of the tongue. "Did you just call me Dad?"

Setsuko breaks into nervous laughter, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "No, I didn't! What are you talking about? Why would I call you that?!" She talks too quickly and ends up choking on her gum. Hato quickly taps her back, and she spits it out into a napkin he's already holding.

Setsuko groans and buries her face into her hands. "Okay...?"

Before Natsuo can inquire further, Rei and Enji enter with dinner. "Dinner is ready!"

As they start eating, the atmosphere remains tense. Rei turns to the cousins. "So, my dears, tell me about yourselves," she says with a kind smile.

"What do you want to know?" Itsuki asks between slurps of soba.

"Don't talk with your mouth full!" Midoriya chides his daughter, who grins sheepishly.

"Age, hobbies, general things like that," Rei clarifies.

"Oldest starts!" Shosuke points at Hato, who lets out a resigned sigh. "I'm 18, almost done with my third year, and I like to read."

Rei nods, smiling. "How wonderful. Do you already know which Hero Agency you will be working for?"

"In my big brother's Agency. He took over Mom's when he graduated," Hato answers, drawing Rei's attention.

Rei turns to Setsuko. "Oh, okay. Guess it's my turn. I'm 16, in my second year, and I like to play video games with my Papa," Setsuko says quickly, sensing her dad eyeing her suspiciously.

"It's Shosuke's turn. He's 15 and just started his first year. He likes doing research and taking notes," Setsuko continues, diverting the attention.

Last is Itsuki. "I'm 15 and also just started my first year. My hobby is kickboxing," Itsuki adds.

Rei seems satisfied after listening intently. During dinner, mostly she, Fuyumi, and Midoriya talk. Everyone else keeps to themselves as Natsuo, Shoto, Setsuko, and Hato glare at Endeavor, which the others try to ignore.

After they've finished eating, Rei and Fuyumi start cleaning the table and head to the kitchen to wash the dishes. Midoriya gets up and follows the two. "Oh, let me help!" he insists.

Rei waves him off. "You don't have to, Izuku."

"I want to," Midoriya insists.

Shoto helps carry the dishes and eyes his kids. They get the hint and get up to help as well.

In the kitchen, Fuyumi and Rei talk.

"I think this went well," Rei says happily. Fuyumi nods absently.

"Are you alright, dear? You seem deep in thought," Rei asks.

"It's nothing... just thinking about Shoto's friends. Didn't you notice how Setsuko looks like a splitting image of you? And Hato..." She pauses, looking down. "He looks like Touya."

Rei goes quiet at her daughter's words.

Meanwhile, with the others, Endeavor and Natsuo keep side-eyeing Hato. It unnerves them just how much this random boy looks like Touya. They might as well be twins.

Hato grows uncomfortable with how his father and uncle keep looking at him. He nervously clears his throat and gets up. "I don't feel very well; I'm gonna go get some air," he announces, heading towards the door.

Setsuko nods and looks after him worriedly. Now it's just her, her father, and grandfather. Setsuko gulps.

Hato exits the house and walks out into the courtyard in front of the house. Nearby bushes rustle, catching his attention. Hato's feathers sharpen in an instant, but it's too late.

Someone covers his mouth and grabs him from behind, pulling him away from the house. He gets tossed to the ground, and a figure looms over him.

"I've been following you all day, you overgrown chicken! Now you tell me what the hell you meant this morning, or I'll burn your precious wings!" the man hisses, a blue fireball lighting up in his scarred palm.

Hato looks up at his captor in disbelief. "What the actual fuck, Dad?!" he groans annoyed, throwing his head back in frustration.

Accidentally time traveled (TAKE II) (COMPLETED)Where stories live. Discover now