Like a Brother Would

Chapter 6

Shoto woke up with his entire body on fire. His fever was flaring up, uncontrollably and he felt as if he had been hit by a truck, several times. He carefully opened his eyes, scanning the room. 

He was in his bedroom, there was a cool wash cloth on his face, giving him temporary relief from the unyielding blaze he felt in his core. Sitting up slowly, his attention was drawn to the two sleeping figures at the end of his bed, Natsuo and Touya. The movement on the bed must have stirred them because Natsuo perked his head up to look at Shoto, and Touya followed shortly after. 

"Shoto! You okay? How are you feeling?" Natsuo asked trying to calm the frantic tone of his voice. 

Shoto answered groggily, "'m okay... really hot." 

The two older brothers sighed simultaneously, "Okay good, that's a good sign." Natsuo looked at Touya. 

"Does your head hurt or anything?" Touya asked, nervous eyes searching Shoto's face. 

Shoto shook his head, "Don't think so...What happened?" 

"You had a seizure, your fever got too high. Natsuo got here a few minutes later and we had to put you in an ice bath to cool you off, he gave you some medicine though so you should be okay." Touya answered. 

Natsuo nodded, "The side effects are that you'll feel hot, but that's a good sign, it means it's working. If it was your normal fever you'd have chills, so let us know if you start feeling chills again okay?" 

Shoto slowly nodded, gratitude and exhaustion etched across his features. "Thank you for helping me," he said, directing his gaze toward Touya.

Touya looked at Shoto, a mixture of relief and concern in his eyes. "Natsuo was the one who really helped, Shoto. I just did what I could."

But Shoto shook his head, a weak but sincere smile on his lips. "No, Touya. You've been taking care of me for the last three days, even when it got really bad. You've been here the whole time."

Touya's eyes softened at Shoto's words, and for a moment, the weight of the past seemed to lift. He had spent so long feeling like an outsider, like he didn't belong with his family, but in that moment, he realized that maybe, just maybe, he was making a difference, maybe he was starting to be good and act like a brother would.

Natsuo chimed in, "Touya did the right thing by calling me to come help when things got out of hand. We're a team, remember? Brothers stick together."

Touya and Shoto exchanged a glance, and then, in unison, they nodded. "Yeah," Shoto affirmed, his voice stronger now.

Natsuo grinned, feeling a sense of pride in his brothers. "That's the spirit."

And just like that, the three Todoroki brothers found themselves in a rare moment of harmony. Despite the challenges they had faced, they were coming together as a family, supporting and caring for each other in their time of need. The bond between them was growing stronger. The road to normalcy and healing within their family was going to be a long one, but they knew it was possible. 

A few days later, Fuyumi, Rei, and Enji returned home to a warm welcome from their family. Shoto's recovery had been remarkable and the brothers had chosen to not tell the remaining members of their family. It was clear that the turmoil they had experienced had brought them closer together but they wanted it to be between them. 

Later that evening, the Todoroki family decided to have a family dinner outing. They chose a cozy restaurant in town, a place where they could enjoy a meal together without the weight of the past looming over them.

As they sat at the table, laughter and conversation flowed freely. It was a simple but profound moment, a glimpse of the happiness they could share as a family. Fuyumi, Rei, and Enji took turns regaling each other with stories from their trip, while Shoto and his brothers listened, participating in the banter and enjoying the feeling of togetherness.

In the days that followed, Shoto and Enji returned to work at the agency, their relationship still a work in progress but marked by a newfound understanding and respect. Enji had taken steps to change, to be a better father and mentor, and Shoto was willing to give him a chance to prove himself.

The road to normalcy and healing within the Todoroki family was undoubtedly a long one, but they had taken the first steps. They had faced their demons, supported each other through the darkest of times, and now, they were determined to move forward together.

And so, as Shoto and Enji returned to their duties as heroes, they did so with a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to building a stronger, healthier family. It was a journey that would continue to have its challenges, but they faced it with the knowledge that they were not alone, that they had each other to rely on.

With this newfound unity and determination, the Todoroki family looked toward the future, ready to face whatever challenges and triumphs it might bring. And as they did, they knew that their bond, once fractured, was now stronger than ever, a testament to the power of love, forgiveness, and the enduring strength of family.