The Broker's Assistant

Chapter Twenty-Three: Small Boss

Chapter Twenty-Three
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Shoto Todoroki sat in his room, the UA acceptance card sitting on his desk that mirrored the one in his father's office. He just sent Burnin a text about his acceptance into UA. He didn't enjoy texting Burnin, but he refused to talk to his father. Long ago, he had made a decision to never submit to the whims and wishes of his father, and that meant he almost rejected the offer.

Yet a part of him hoped he could still be a hero that he could be proud of. He didn't want to hate being a hero, yet he couldn't find the part of him that loved being a hero. The beatings given to him by his father had destroyed his hope. Even All Might, the greatest hero, couldn't restore what had been broken so many times.

Shoto didn't reject the letter because he knew deep inside he lacked the ability or the will to follow another path. His father went on tirades about how weak his siblings were, but they all chose their own paths while Shoto struggled to do what came to him.

Frustrated with having to face his own emotions and feelings he decided to grab a snack before he started his daily training in the empty house. While his siblings occasionally stopped by they didn't visit much and when they came by it was never for long enough to leave any impact on Shoto.

Being alone was just how things were and having no one he shared a connection with didn't bother him. He didn't need friends, and he certainly didn't need a family either. Family was nothing but a disappointment waiting to happen.

He stepped into the kitchen as he saw the fridge was open. Instantly, he used his ice side to make a wall around himself. Their wasn't a single person who should be home, and he knew not a single one of his siblings or his father would have left the fridge open. Whoever was in his house wasn't a Todoroki or someone who worked for his father.

A chill began to cover his body, a chill that didn't come from his ice wall but from a creature. Slowly he turned his head as he saw a man dressed in a suit the color of darkness. Inky and bottomless, he could feel the hatred of this man as he looked down at Shoto his eyes covered by a mask while a smile reached across his face.

"Shoto Todoroki, you are certaintly a remarkable specimen, control of both fire and ice with skills that match with the Yuki Clan." The voice said, the sound ominous and chilling as if each word held its own personal vendetta against the one that came before it. This wasn't a man but a demon king, and Shoto was terrified of him.

"You father abused you, didn't he?" The voice asked, seeming less cold and more like what a father should be. Shoto felt similar to when his siblings first distanced themselves from him. Small, helpless, and most of all terribly alone. He couldn't manage a response but he shook his head hoping if he objected to his father abusing him it would make the demon leave."

"You don't need to lie to me Shoto, you are alone, I've been watching you for some time now, you and your interesting family have caught my eye and my personal interest." His voice said almost rhythmically.

"Stay away from them!" Shoto growled doing his best to fight against the fear that gripped his heart. He felt as if he were a wounded deer cornered in the forest by a hunter, weak, desperate and out of options he shot a pillar of fire at the man who simply swatted it away as if Shoto were merely flapping a paper plate at him.

"Then rebell with me, rebel against your father and the society that placed him into power, help me destroy Endeavor." The man said his damaged face crookedly turning into a sickening smile. His hand touching a nearby table as it turned to ash.

Shoto looked in horror as it slowly decayed, the chair, the objects on it all turning to dust right in front of his eyes. "Oh, that." The man said with a smile. "Let's just say it was a final gift from a dead man who outlived his worth, I'm certain the spawn of Enji Todoroki won't make the same mistakes as his father."

"The same mistakes." Shoto repeated slowly as the hand of the man touched his head. His hand was heavy and strong it felt like he had stacked a heavy book on his head.

"I'm certain you won't die, but if you die I will slaughter your family in retaliation, so Shoto do your best to accept all that you are and all that he was." The man said as his hand began to glow and Shoto's body erupted with intense pain that ravaged his body.