It was a quiet evening in the Todoroki household. The house was peaceful, with Fuyumi grading papers in her room, Natsuo lounging on the couch with his textbooks, and Shoto engaged in his late-night training session outside. Enji Todoroki, the former No. 2 Hero, had long since retired to his study—at least, that's what his children thought.
But Enji wasn't reviewing hero reports or planning strategies. No, tonight, like many nights before, he was indulging in his guilty pleasure. Sitting in front of his large, flat-screen TV, the burly, flame-haired hero had a bowl of popcorn in one hand and the remote in the other, eyes glued to the screen. The latest season of "Heartthrob Island," a trashy dating show filled with overly dramatic love triangles and tearful confessions, was reaching its climax, and Enji was absolutely hooked.
The clock ticked closer to midnight, but Enji didn’t notice. He was too absorbed in the show, a wide grin on his usually stern face. The hero who had once been feared for his harsh training methods and unyielding demeanor was now muttering things like, “Come on, Akira, you can’t choose Miki over Hana! She’s been there for you since the beginning!”
For years, this had been Enji’s secret, one he guarded more fiercely than any battle strategy. He had a reputation to maintain—a reputation as the fierce, stoic, and driven hero Endeavor. No one could ever know that he spent his nights watching cheesy reality TV shows. And yet, as much as he feared being discovered, he couldn’t resist the allure of these mindless, entertaining programs. They were his one escape from the burdens of his past and the relentless pressure of his hero work.
But tonight, Enji had gotten a bit too comfortable. The volume was turned up just a little too loud, and he was so engrossed in the drama unfolding on the screen that he didn’t hear the quiet footsteps approaching his study door.
Natsuo had gone to the kitchen for a late-night snack when he heard the muffled sounds of voices coming from his father’s study. It was strange—Enji was never this loud when working. Curious, he called Fuyumi over, and the two of them crept toward the door, their curiosity piqued. Shoto, having just finished his training, noticed his siblings sneaking around and joined them, his expression a mix of confusion and mild concern.
The three siblings exchanged glances before gently pushing the door open. They expected to find their father buried in paperwork or staring at his hero memorabilia. Instead, they were greeted with the sight of Enji Todoroki, the fearsome Flame Hero, leaning back in his chair, completely engrossed in a dating show.
Natsuo’s jaw dropped. Fuyumi stifled a giggle, and even Shoto’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Dad?” Natsuo finally managed to say.
Enji nearly jumped out of his chair, scrambling to pause the show. He turned around, his face flushed with embarrassment as he faced his children. There was an awkward silence as they all stared at each other, the reality of the situation sinking in.
Fuyumi was the first to break the silence, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “So... this is what you’ve been doing all these years?”
Enji’s eyes darted to the paused screen, where two contestants were frozen mid-argument. “It’s... it’s just a show,” he stammered, trying to regain some semblance of his usual composure. “I watch it to unwind. It’s not a big deal.”
Natsuo couldn’t help but laugh. “Dad, you’ve been hiding this from us? All this time?”
Shoto, still processing the absurdity of the situation, added, “You were doing this even when you were... you know...”
Enji looked away, guilt momentarily flashing across his face. He knew what Shoto was referring to—those dark years when he had been a different man, a man consumed by his obsession with surpassing All Might. It was ironic, in a way, that even during those years, he had found time to indulge in such frivolous entertainment.
“Yes,” Enji admitted quietly. “Even then.”
The room was filled with an awkward, yet oddly comforting silence. The tension of the past seemed to lift, if only for a moment, as the siblings realized that their father, the man they had once feared and resented, was still human—flawed, strange, and even a little ridiculous.
Fuyumi finally stepped forward, placing a hand on Enji’s shoulder. “Dad, it’s okay. We all have our ways of coping. If reality TV is yours, then... well, at least it’s harmless.”
Natsuo grinned, “Yeah, and honestly, it’s kind of hilarious. Who knew the great Endeavor was a reality TV junkie?”
Enji couldn’t help but smile at that. “I suppose... I have a lot more to explain than just this,” he said, his voice softening as he realized how much he had hidden from his children over the years.
Shoto, still serious but with a hint of a smile, said, “Maybe next time, you can watch with us.”
The suggestion caught Enji off guard. The idea of watching something so personal, so embarrassing, with his children felt strange, yet... it also felt like a step forward, a way to bridge the gap that had existed between them for so long.
“Maybe,” Enji agreed, nodding slowly.
And so, what started as a secret shame became an unexpected bond for the Todoroki family. They didn’t fix everything that night—there were still years of hurt and misunderstandings to work through—but for the first time in a long time, they laughed together, united by the strange, cheesy world of reality TV.
