Maybe We'll fix Each Other

Chapter 55

Summary:

It's Shoto's turn to testify.

Keigo really hopes it goes well.

Notes:

Time for the littlest Todoroki to take the stand!❤️🩵

Thanks for the feedback on testimony lengths, you guys! Hope you keep enjoying the courtroom drama! Spoiler alert: Shimizu is still an ass 🫏

(See the end of the chapter for .)

Chapter Text

Dread sat heavy in Keigo's stomach as Shoto climbed the steps to the witness stand, as calm and collected as he always seemed. For the most part, Shoto could be counted on to keep the level head that his brothers and sister tended to let loose. And as depressing as his testimony would be, it was unlikely that Shimizu would get a rise out of him.

At least, that was the hope.

But the dread in Keigo's stomach wasn't related to Shoto. Not really. Not even the rest of the Todorokis.

Because as much as he hated himself for it, the lurking presence of the Commission president was clawing at the back of his mind.

She was right there. And it wouldn't be long until Keigo was sitting up there again.

Keigo set his jaw and straightened, forcing the thoughts back. He was good at that. He needed to keep calm to help make sure he didn't ruin the case for Dabi.

"Would you please state your relation to the plaintiff and defendant?" Nighteye began, just as he had for the others.

Focus on the testimony, Keigo repeated over and over to himself.

Shoto's face was blank as he replied. "My name is Shoto Todoroki. I am the youngest child of Enji Todoroki, and the youngest sibling of Touya Todoroki–Dabi."

Keigo sent a brief look at Dabi, who was watching his little brother with sharp eyes. He didn't miss the smallest hint of fondness that crossed his face when Shoto said both of his names. It reminded Keigo of something Dabi had told him: that Shoto was the one he could connect with the most. That Shoto didn't hold him to the standards of his old life.

"We have heard from your three siblings their own perspectives of childhood," Nighteye continued, leaning back on his heels. "Did you remember anything about Touya before his quirk accident?"

"No," Shoto replied. "I was very young. Most memories are vague, or put together from what I've been told."

"And what were you told about Touya?"

"Endeavor said he worked himself to death by pushing his quirk too far. We weren't allowed to talk about Touya growing up, but every now and then–when Endeavor wasn't home–my siblings would talk about him. Fuyumi said he couldn't sit still and always had to be doing something. Natsuo said he would make time to play games with him when he was lonely. My mother...never spoke of him."

"How old were you, when your father began training you?" Nighteye asked.

"I was four."

"What did your training entail?"

"At first it was quirk control," Shoto explained. "How to activate each side, hot and cold. Once I got the basics down, we moved onto combat training."

"Combat training? At four years old?"

"Four and a half," he clarified, as if there was a difference between four and four and a half. Keigo made a concentrated effort not to let his face react to that. His own training at least had started at six.