Kal El (Boku no Hero Academia)

Chapter 19: Brownies and Impatient Bakers

"Who?" Enji asked.

"Fatgum. How do you heroes not know each other's real names if you work together so much?"

"No one asks," Enji said.

Akiyo briefly took notice of the Todoroki children seeming incredibly stunned. Their father, a forty five year old hard ass was respecting a young girl.

Once dinner was finished, Enji insisted on doing dishes as Shoto, Fuyumi and Natsuo showed her around the house.

"You guys surprised that asshole isn't trying to kill me?" She asked in a very nonchalant manner as they showed her to the training area.

"Y-yeah, to be honest..." Fuyumi said.

"A few weeks ago he also started being calmer for some reason," Natsuo said.

"I probably made him surprised. Did I cry? I think I cried. I also did my best to make him understand how his actions could affect others... I hope I didn't interfere too much with your family," she said, giving a deep bow.

"No, I believe you made him realize his mistakes. He doesn't listen or respect just anybody. In fact I was sure the only person he would respect in this life is this Yamamoto-san. But whatever you did, he respects you."

"Ah, that's good. But you guys deserve that too, most especially because you're his kids. I hope you'll all make Christmas cookies together, if it makes you happy."

"We will do our best-"

"We shall see," Shoto interrupted his sister. Akiyo chuckled. Only about two inches taller than Shoto, she patted his head and ruffled his hair.

"You've done well. I'll be looking forward to what your future brings. That goes for all of you."

They all felt warm and fuzzy inside. She didn't even know them. But she was strong and kind and she made their father change for the better.

Shoto hugged the woman, immediately making Natsuo and Fuyumi incredibly concerned and flustered, respectively.

She gently patted his hair, feeling him sob into her shoulder.

"We'll be outside," Fuyumi said, leaving the two alone. Natsuo followed his sister out of the room.

"I really admire you... that you speak your mind and you believe in yourself... I can't do that..."

"It's scary for me too, you know? I don't completely believe in myself either. I don't believe I need to be anything bigger than myself. But I believe in the things I stand for and I often regret staying silent. So when the things that make me most scared aren't even present, I feel my other fears are almost trivial in comparison. It must be strange if your goal is the same but your reasoning is different."

"How do you-"

"Earlier you showed me your room. Among the study books, there were many on ideologies of heroes."

"I see..."

"It's not a bad thing. I think it's good to learn about other opinions. However, you should never lose sight of yourself. That being said, you will also change constantly. Your beliefs don't need to be set in stone. And what other people tell you about your worth is meaningless. Because your worth can't be judged by anyone but yourself. You've been strong and you need to let yourself cry. If you shut the hurt out then you'll shut everything out."

She wasn't sure any of her words got through to him, but it made him cry more, hearing words he needed to hear for so long.

When he finished crying, he began apologizing profusely.