Shoto stood in stunned silence, watching Kenji’s back as he turned to leave the study. His son’s final words cut through him like a blade: "I don't trust anything that comes out of your mouth. I'm sorry."
The raw pain in Kenji’s voice left Shoto feeling hollow. For so long, he’d convinced himself that hiding the truth was an act of love, but now that choice had torn a rift between them that seemed impossible to mend. When Shoto finally found his voice, it was thick with emotion.
“Kenji… wait, please,” Shoto said, moving after him, his tone pleading.
Kenji stopped at the door, his face set, his jaw clenched with resolve. " I’m going to stay with Uncle Kirishima for a while. Maybe I’ll come back when you start being honest with me.”
Shoto’s face crumpled slightly, but he tried again, reaching a hand out. “Kenji, please. Just-”
Kenji stepped back, unwilling to let Shoto’s words sway him. “Goodbye, Dad.”
He turned and left, ignoring his father’s strained pleas, each step he took down the hallway feeling like a weight was lifted off his shoulders.
It was late by the time Kenji arrived at the Kirishima household, the house warmly lit, casting a soft glow through the windows. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was too much to show up out of nowhere. But he didn’t have anywhere else he wanted to be.
He raised his fist and knocked, and a few moments later, the door opened to reveal a surprised Kai, his brow furrowing at the sight of his friend standing there.
“Huh? Kenji?” Kai asked, eyes scanning him for any sign of what might’ve brought him here.
Kenji managed a tired smile. “Hey… Sorry, I know it’s late. Can I crash here for a while?”
Kai didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, of course. Come in.”
As Kenji stepped inside, Mina and Kirishima, who’d been sitting in the living room, turned to see who was at the door. At the sight of Kenji’s weary expression, worry flickered across their faces.
“Kenji?” Mina asked, standing up. “Everything okay?”
Kenji opened his mouth to respond, but he didn’t know what to say. Luckily, Kirishima seemed to catch on quickly. His gaze softened with understanding, and he put a gentle hand on Mina’s shoulder, nodding toward the kitchen.
“Why don’t you go make some tea, Mina?” he suggested. “Kai, go help your mom.”
Kai looked from his dad to Kenji, sensing the tension in the room, but he nodded and headed off with Mina to give them some space.
Once they were alone, Kirishima gestured for Kenji to sit. Kenji reluctantly did, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on him.
“Rough night?” Kirishima asked quietly, his tone kind but probing.
Kenji nodded, feeling the frustration simmering just below the surface. “You could say that.”
Kirishima sighed, leaning back, clearly bracing himself. “I take it you found out?”
Kenji’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing as he studied Kirishima’s face. He could see it now the glint of guilt, the look of someone who’d been keeping a secret. The same look his dad had. The realization struck him like a punch to the gut.
“You knew?” Kenji’s voice was low, filled with a hurt he could no longer hide.
Kirishima looked away, taking a slow breath. “Yes.”
The words hung heavy in the air, and Kenji felt his heart pounding with anger and betrayal. He’d trusted Kirishima, thought of him as someone who would always be honest with him. But now, to realize he’d been part of this awful lie.
Without thinking, Kenji’s fist clenched, and in a flash, he stood up and threw a punch, landing squarely on Kirishima’s jaw.
Kirishima took the blow without resistance, staggering back slightly. He didn’t retaliate, his gaze remaining steady, his expression pained but accepting.
At the commotion, Kai rushed back into the room, his eyes wide as he took in the scene. “What the heck did you do to him?” he demanded, glaring at his dad.
Kirishima raised a hand to stop Kai, shaking his head. “It’s okay, Kai.”
“No, it’s not,” Kenji muttered, his voice raw, his body shaking with pent-up emotion. “You knew. Both you and Dad… you both knew. And you lied to me.”
Kirishima took a breath, looking directly into Kenji’s eyes. “Yes. And you have every right to be angry. I’m sorry, Kenji. I didn’t want it to happen like this.”
Kenji’s gaze hardened. “Then how did you want it to happen? When were you going to tell me? When I was an adult? When I had my own kids? Or maybe never?”
Kirishima’s shoulders sagged, and he looked down. “I don’t have an excuse, Kenji. I only wanted to honor your parents’ wishes. They wanted you to have a life free from the danger that surrounded them. Shoto and I both agreed that you deserved a normal life.”
Kenji felt the anger flaring up again. “A normal life? You thought keeping the truth from me was going to help me? Did you ever think about what it would feel like to find out like this? Did you think I wouldn’t feel betrayed?”
Kirishima’s voice softened, thick with regret. “Kenji, I know we messed up. I see that now. But believe me, everything we did, we did because we thought it was best for you.”
Kenji scoffed, feeling the bitterness welling up. “Well, congratulations. You succeeded in making me feel like I don’t know who I am anymore.”
Kirishima looked stricken, his own guilt mirrored in his son’s worried gaze as Kai took in his dad’s reaction, trying to piece together the story.
After a long silence, Kai finally spoke up, his voice cautious but laced with protectiveness toward Kenji. “Look, Kenji. I don’t know what my dad or your dad thought they were doing, but if you need to stay here, you’re welcome as long as you want. No more secrets.”
Kenji’s shoulders relaxed a bit, his anger giving way to exhaustion. “Thanks,kai” He gave Kirishima one last, piercing look, then turned toward the stairs.
Kirishima called after him, his voice breaking slightly. “Kenji… I know it’s hard for you. But please, if you have questions… I’ll tell you everything I can. Just… don’t shut us out completely.”
Kenji paused, his back still to Kirishima. He hesitated, the weight of everything pressing down on him, but in the end, he simply shook his head and continued up the stairs without looking back.
Kai stayed behind, watching his father with a mixture of disappointment and confusion. “Dad, what were you thinking? Did you really think he’d be okay with this?”
Kirishima ran a hand through his hair, the guilt evident in his face. “we thought we were doing the right thing. But I see now that maybe we were wrong.”
Kai gave his father a long, scrutinizing look. “Well, whatever the plan was, it backfired. I just hope you find a way to make it right.”
With that, Kai followed after Kenji, leaving Kirishima alone in the living room, the weight of his choices hanging heavily in the quiet that followed.
YOU ARE READING
MY HERO ACADEMIA:NEXT GENERATION
ActionTHIS story is about MHA next gen as the title says.. The protagonist is Kenji todoroki's journey to reach his dream of becoming a hero. Along with the strangles and the unfolding mysteries of his life. (What else do you want? It's MHA next gen read...
