𝗖𝗨𝗣𝗜𝗗 ᝰ bnha

26 | under the surface

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
UNDER THE SURFACE

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"...No, I don't think I will."

Your voice cut through the hallway. Spoken with such certainty, no space for hesitation.

Shoto's eyes widened, just barely. He had expected a polite excuse, maybe even a quick retreat. That would've made sense. After all, people mostly fear and intimidate his father—he's not exactly the friendliest out in public. But...

There was no way in hell you were going to let the Number Two Hero tell you what to do.

For a fleeting moment, the silence was deafening. All Shoto could hear was the low crackle of fire and the distant roar of the stadium.

"Good grief," Endeavor finally scoffed, the words curling in disgust. "Have you been encouraging that fool's rebellious phase for a while now or something?"

You took a breath, the words sharpening with every syllable. "Is it rebellious to want to live his life the way Shoto chooses? Or is it just not according to your blueprint?"

His towering form casted a looming shadow over you. "Don't speak like you know him."

"Don't speak like you own him."

The flames coiling around Endeavor's shoulders pulsed in response, casting flickering shadows that danced along the corridor walls. His scowl deepened, and for a moment, his composed mask faltered.

"That boy," he ground out, voice low, "is my great masterpiece, and he shall be the one to surpass All Might. Such is his duty. It's for that purpose that I created him." 

Shoto hadn't realized he curled his fists until he felt the sting of nails digging into his palms.

You stood frozen to absorb the words, and it was taking everything in you not to explode. But you wouldn't yell. You wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Instead, you bit down on your lip and gathered yourself with deliberate control.

"With all due respect," sometimes no respect is due, is what you wanted to honestly say, "how could you have such little faith in your own strength that you chose to dump the burden of your failures onto your child?"

Endeavor said nothing.

You stepped forward this time.

"But I'll say this." You looked him straight in the eye, unwavering. "You're right about one thing. Shoto shouldn't limit his power. But whatever he chooses to do with it... you're out of it."

A pause. The flames crackled quietly. Your defiance stoked something primal in him, and what bled through the cracks was unmistakabe: irritation, and maybe even a hint of offense. After all, who does this girl think she was?

"It's about time you take accountability... and start acting like a real father before it's too late," you exhaled. "Because I've never felt more utterly sorry for you, Mr. Endeavor."

At that moment, it hit him. The twitch of his jaw was evident. He looked ready to fire back—until something over your shoulder stole his attention. His posture tensed, and his turquoise eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

"...Shoto."

You swiftly whipped around, heart skipping a beat to find the boy in question slowly walking forward. His heterochromia eyes flickered from you to his father, then back again, unreadable—but intense.

Had he been listening this whole time? You felt your cheeks warm, embarrassment creeping in at the thought that Shoto most likely overheard everything.