MY HERO ACADEMIA:NEXT GENERATION

Chapter 33: A Fragile Peace

The sun was high by the time Kenji made his way to the park to meet Ren. He was exhausted after the sleepless night he'd spent turning over every detail he'd discovered. His father's secrecy surrounding his adoption it all felt like an endless loop of questions he couldn't answer. But he was determined not to let it weigh him down today. Ren was giving him another chance, and he didn't intend to waste it.

Ren waved him over as he approached, a faint smile on his face. "Hey, thought you weren't gonna show up."

Kenji chuckled, trying to keep his voice light. "Yeah, sorry. Rough night."

Ren raised an eyebrow, but he didn't press, just nodded in understanding. "So, what do you wanna do? Spar? Go get food?"

Kenji thought for a moment. "How about both? Spar first, food after?"

"Deal," Ren replied, and they headed over to the training area, a secluded spot shaded by trees. As they started their warm-up routines, the familiar rhythm of their movements brought Kenji a sense of calm he hadn't felt in days.

Once they were ready, they faced off, moving slowly at first but gradually picking up speed. Ren was quick on his feet, his movements precise and calculated. Kenji met him blow for blow, their abilities complementing each other in a way that felt natural. For a while, the world around them disappeared, and it was just the two of them, lost in the sparring rhythm.

After a while, they paused, catching their breath.

"You're getting better," Ren noted, grinning. "I almost had to try to keep up with you."

Kenji laughed. "Maybe you're just getting slow."

Ren rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of warmth in his gaze. "I'll let that one slide. This time."

Kenji's smile faded slightly as he looked at Ren, wanting to say something anything that might help bridge the gap that still lingered between them. But he didn't know where to start. Apologizing again felt redundant, yet staying silent seemed wrong, too.

Ren seemed to notice his hesitation. "You're a little quiet today. Something on your mind?"

Kenji hesitated, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on him again. "Yeah, actually. There's... a lot going on. Stuff with my dad." He stopped, then forced himself to continue. "I found out he's been hiding something HUGE from me."

Ren was quiet for a moment, then he put a hand on Kenji's shoulder. "Look, I know I can't exactly give family advice, but I think if you're gonna confront him, you need to be prepared. Know what you want to say, and make sure he knows how much this matters to you."

Kenji felt a surge of gratitude toward Ren. "Thanks, man. I needed to hear that."

Ren grinned, giving his shoulder a gentle punch. "Anytime. Now let's grab some food before I start regretting offering to hang out with you."

They laughed, the tension lifting a little as they headed to a nearby ramen shop. For a little while, things almost felt normal.

Later that night, Kenji sat in his room, Ren's words echoing in his mind. He was going to confront his father.

After an hour, Kenji took a deep breath and left his room, heading down the hallway to his father's study. Shoto was usually there late, working or reading, and sure enough, he was sitting behind his desk, his attention focused on a stack of papers.

"Dad," Kenji said, standing in the doorway.

Shoto looked up, surprised. "Kenji. I wasn't expecting you. Something on your mind?"

Kenji stepped into the room, his hands clenched at his sides. "Yeah. There is."

Shoto's gaze sharpened, his expression unreadable. "Alright. What is it?"

Kenji took a steadying breath, the words he'd rehearsed with Ren running through his mind. "I found out about my adoption. About the redacted files, the sealed records. You knew, didn't you?"

For a moment, Shoto didn't say anything, his face carefully neutral. Then he sighed, setting the papers aside. "Yes, I knew."

Kenji's heart pounded, a mixture of anger and frustration swirling within him. "Why didn't you tell me? All these years, you've kept it from me. You told me you didn't know who my parents were.Why?"

Shoto leaned back, his gaze steady. "Kenji, I didn't keep it from you to hurt you. I did it to protect you. The circumstances of your adoption... they're complicated. There were risks involved, risks I wasn't willing to expose you to."

Kenji shook his head, feeling a surge of frustration. " How could knowing who my parents are be a risk??it's my life. I had a right to know."

Shoto's expression softened slightly. "Maybe. But I wanted to make sure you grew up in a stable environment. A place where you felt safe, where you wouldn't have to worry about things you couldn't control."

Kenji felt his anger flare up again, but he forced himself to stay calm. "You can't just decide what's best for me without giving me a choice. You didn't trust me enough to handle it, and now... now I don't know if I can trust you."

The words seemed to hit Shoto hard. For the first time, his father's composed facade cracked, a flicker of pain crossing his face.

"I understand," Shoto said quietly, his voice heavy. "And I'm sorry, Kenji. I thought I was doing the right thing. But if I hurt you in the process, then I was wrong. You deserve to know the truth. If you're ready, I'll tell you everything."

Kenji's heart raced, both eager and apprehensive. He nodded, sitting down across from his father.

Shoto took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Your biological parents...they were both heroes. They were... Katsuki Bakugo and Izuku Midoriya. They... they wanted a family more than anything. But because of their histories both their fame and their enemies it wasn't easy. They knew that a child would be at risk of being targeted. When you were born, they realized the danger was even greater than they'd anticipated."

Kenji's mind reeled as he processed what he was hearing. "Bakugo... and Midoriya? They're my...?"

Shoto nodded, his face somber. "Yes. You are their son, but their lives were far from ordinary. They both had enemies who would stop at nothing to hurt them and by extension, you."

"What... happened to them?" Kenji asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"They died protecting you," Shoto said quietly. "They didn't want to go into hiding themselves. Instead, they fought to take down the last of their enemies. But it came at a cost. In their final mission, they lost their lives, but they ensured you would be safe. Their final wish was for you to grow up without the weight of their legacy or the threat of their enemies."

Kenji felt a lump in his throat, his mind struggling to comprehend the full impact of Shoto's words. He'd always known he was adopted, but hearing the truth about his parents made it all painfully real.

"Why didn't you just tell me?" he whispered, the hurt clear in his voice. "Why didn't you think I could handle it?"

Shoto looked down, his expression one of regret. "Because I didn't want you to blame yourself or live in fear, Kenji. I wanted you to have a life free from the shadows of their past. I thought that by keeping you safe, I was honoring their memory. But I see now that I should have trusted you."

Kenji was quiet, his emotions swirling. He wasn't sure he was ready to forgive his father, but at least he finally had the truth. And that was something.

After a long silence, Shoto spoke again. "If you want to know more, I'll tell you. But understand that knowing about them... it might bring risks."

Kenji nodded slowly. "I want to know."

Shoto studied him for a moment before nodding in acceptance. "Very well. I'll tell you everythin-"

"But not from you. I don't trust anything that comes out of your mouth. I'm sorry."