(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
-------------------------------------------------
The small café near the station was warm, filled with the low hum of conversation and the soft clink of cups.
Natsuo Todoroki stirred his coffee a little too aggressively.
"...."
"I'm telling you," he said, squinting into the mug, "something's weird."
Across from him, Fuyumi Todoroki smiled tiredly and took a careful sip of her latte.
"Weird… or just good?"
Natsuo looked up. "That's exactly what's suspicious."
She sighed hearing her brother's words.
-Sigh
"Natsuo—Mom laughing again isn't a crime."
"I know," he said quickly. "And I'm glad she's better. Really. But explain this to me."
He leaned forward, lowering his voice dramatically.
"She's smiling at her phone. Like… smiling smiling. Then the moment either of us walks by—click. Call ends. Poker face."
Fuyumi paused.
"…Okay," she admitted slowly. "That part is strange."
Natsuo pointed at her triumphantly.
"See? You noticed it too!"
Fuyumi tapped her finger against the cup, thinking.
"She's been calmer. More… grounded. Like some weight lifted off her."
"And she keeps humming," Natsuo added. "Mom does not hum."
They both went quiet.
"...."
"...."
A dangerous thought crept in.
Fuyumi blinked her eyes widden a sudden realization.
"Do you think—"
"No," Natsuo cut in immediately.
"Don't say it. …that she might be talking to someone special?"
Natsuo groaned and leaned back.
-Sigh
"Oh my god."
Fuyumi tilted her head, half-amused, half-concerned.
"I mean… she is separated. She's allowed to have friends."
"Friends don't make you hang up like you're hiding contraband," Natsuo muttered.
Another silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Then Fuyumi smiled softly.
"…Whoever it is," she said, "they're making her happy."
Natsuo looked away, conflicted.
"…Yeah," he admitted. "That's the annoying part. I can't even be mad."
He glanced back at his sister.
"But if she suddenly introduces us to some mystery guy out of nowhere, I'm interrogating him."
Fuyumi laughed loudly.
-Haha
"Of course you are."
They clinked their cups together lightly.
Whatever secret their mother was hiding—it wasn't fear this time.
It was happiness.
And that confused them more than anything else.
The argument picked up steam.
"Look, I'm not saying it's bad,"
Natsuo said, hands waving as if he could physically wrestle the idea into sense.
"I'm just saying the timing's suspicious."
Fuyumi crossed her arms.
"You say that about everything."
"I'm serious. Mom's been through hell. What if someone's—"
He stopped, jaw tightening,
"—what if someone's taking advantage of her?"
Fuyumi's expression softened.
"That's exactly why I'm not angry," she said quietly. "I'm worried."
They sat there for a moment, the café noise flowing around them like water around stones.
"...."
"...."
"...."
"I'd support her,"
Natsuo added, more firmly now.
"Divorce, new life, whatever. Dad doesn't get to decide her happiness after everything."
Fuyumi nodded immediately.
-Nod
"Same. Completely."
She hesitated for a moment.
"...."
"But if someone's manipulating her while she's still healing… I won't forgive that."
Natsuo exhaled slowly.
"Yeah."
They stood, finished their drinks, and tossed the cups away.
"Let's go see her," Fuyumi said. "Not to interrogate. Just… be there."
Natsuo shoved his hands into his pockets.
"And tell her we've got her back. No matter what."
They headed out together.
Not as detectives. Not as judges.
Just as a brother and sister who'd seen their mother break once—and refused to let it happen again.
The corridor outside the apartment was quiet. Too quiet.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Natsuo Todoroki and Fuyumi Todoroki stopped just short of the door when they heard it—their mother's laughter.
Not strained. Not nervous.
Genuine. Both of them froze.
Natsuo frowned slightly, jaw tightening. Fuyumi's hand hovered midair, uncertain.
-Frown
They exchanged a look.
'So it wasn't our imagination.'
Fuyumi inhaled slowly, steadying herself.
'No matter what… her happiness comes first.'
Natsuo nodded once, as if answering her unspoken thought. Then he reached forward and rang the bell.
-Nod
-Chime!
A pause. Footsteps.
-Thud. -Thud.
-Thud. -Thud.
The door opened.
Rei Todoroki stood there, phone still at her ear.
When she saw them, her eyes widened slightly in surprise—and then softened.
"Oh,"
She said warmly. She pulled the phone away.
"I'll call you later."
The call ended.
Rei smiled. Not the polite smile they were used to. Not the careful one.
A real one.
"You're here early," she said, stepping aside. "Come in."
Natsuo and Fuyumi shared another glance before stepping inside.
"...."
"...."
The door closed behind them with a soft click.
And just like that, whatever conversation Rei had been having—whatever secret happiness she was carrying—now stood quietly between the three of them, waiting to be spoken aloud.
The apartment felt warmer than usual.
Not just from the tea steaming gently on the table—but from Rei's presence.
She moved with a lightness that hadn't been there before, humming softly as she set the cups down.
Rei Todoroki looked at her children and tilted her head.
"…You're both very quiet," she said gently. "Did something happen?"
Across from her, Fuyumi Todoroki clasped her hands in her lap.
Beside her, Natsuo Todoroki stared into his tea like it might answer for him.
The silence stretched.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Rei's brows knit together, worry seeping into her eyes.
"Did I… do something wrong?"
That did it.
Fuyumi inhaled sharply.
"No! No, Mom—nothing like that."
Natsuo winced not knowing how to start.
"…We just—"
He stopped. Scratched the back of his neck. Looked away.
-Scratch -Scratch
Rei waited. She didn't rush them. She'd learned patience the hard way.
Fuyumi finally lifted her gaze.
"We've noticed you've been… happier."
Rei blinked, surprised.
"...."
"And that's good," Natsuo added quickly. "Really good. We're glad. We just—"
He swallowed like he had just avoided stepping on a landmine.
-Gulp
"You've been talking to someone. And… we were worried."
Rei's hands tightened slightly around her cup.
"Worried?" she echoed.
Fuyumi nodded, voice soft but firm.
-Nod
"About you. About whether someone might be taking advantage of you while you're still healing."
Natsuo forced himself to meet her eyes.
"We don't want you hurt again. That's all."
The room went still.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Then—
Rei let out a quiet, breathy laugh. Not mocking. Not defensive. Just… tired and sincere.
"Oh," she said softly.
She set her cup down and reached across the table, placing her hands over theirs.
"You've both grown so kind," she said, eyes shining. "I'm sorry I made you worry."
Fuyumi's voice trembled.
"Mom… whatever decision you make—we'll support you. Even if it means leaving Dad behind. Your happiness matters more than anything."
Natsuo nodded hard fastly.
-Nod
"Yeah. You don't owe anyone suffering."
Rei closed her eyes for a moment.
"...."
When she opened them, there were tears—but not the broken kind.
"…Thank you," she whispered.
She squeezed their hands gently.
"I promise you this: no one is hurting me. No one is using me."
A pause. "…And when I'm ready,"
She added, a faint smile touching her lips,
"I'll tell you everything."
Fuyumi smiled back, relieved.
Natsuo exhaled, tension finally draining from his shoulders.
"That's all we wanted to hear," he muttered.
Rei laughed again—freer this time.
-Hahaha!
The tea cooled on the table, forgotten.
For the first time in a long while, the apartment didn't feel like a place of recovery.
It felt like a home.
Rei's smile turned playful.
-Fufu!
"Well then," Rei Todoroki said, eyes glinting, "would you like to meet the person I was talking to?"
Fuyumi blinked caught off guard by her mother's question.
-Blink -Blink
"...."
"M-Mom—"
"Yes,"
Natsuo Todoroki cut in immediately, leaning forward.
"Absolutely. I really want to meet him."
Rei raised a brow, amused.
"...."
"I need to see if he's worthy,"
Natsuo continued, cracking his knuckles dramatically.
-Crack -Crack
"You know. Man-to-man talk."
Fuyumi groaned. "Natsuo—!"
Rei laughed, genuinely, then picked up her phone.
-Haha!
"Alright. Let's see."
Across town, Rudra was in the middle of a very different negotiation at U.A.
U.A High School...
Staff Room...
"So,"
Nemuri Kayama said, leaning far too close,
"I already booked the tickets. Front row. Premium seats."
Rudra sighed rubbing his temples.
-Sigh
"You realize this is blackmail."
She grinned without any shamelessness.
-Grin
"Romantic persuasion."
"I don't even like horror movies."
"You'll hold my hand," she said sweetly.
"…That's worse."
Just as he resigned himself to his fate, his phone rang.
-Ring... -Ring...
"...."
Rudra glanced at the screen and froze for half a second.
'Rei. Toya's mom...'
He answered. "Hello?"
Her voice came through bright and excited, different from before. Lighter.
"Rudra, are you busy?"
He glanced at Nemuri, who was now smirking knowingly.
-Smirk
"…Define busy."
Rei laughed softly.
Chuckle
"I was wondering—could I bring my daughter and my second son to meet you know?"
Rudra paused. He understood immediately.
"...."
Not suspicion. Not confrontation. Family.
"…Yes," he said after a moment. "Bring them to the recovery center."
Nemuri's teasing grin faded just a little.
"But," Rudra added calmly, "please explain to them that this stays between us. Endavor must not know. Not yet."
"I understand," Rei replied without hesitation. "Thank you."
The call ended.
Rudra lowered the phone, exhaling slowly.
Nemuri crossed her arms.
"You just agreed to something serious, didn't you?"
He nodded his head pocketing his mobile.
"Very."
She studied him for a moment, then smirked again.
-Smirk
"Good. We can do the movie another day."
Rudra blinked. "…You're letting me off?"
"Don't get used to it," she said, already walking away. "Some family needs you... So public comes first."
Hearing her he laughed and told her that he would accompany her to the movie there is no need to change plans.
Back at the apartment, Rei set her phone down.
"He agreed," she said warmly.
Natsuo's eyes sharpened. "Good. When do we meet him?"
Fuyumi looked between them, nervous but curious. "Mom… who is he?"
Rei's smile softened, a mix of warmth and quiet resolve.
"You'll see," she said. "Soon."
Recovery Center...
The Recovery Center was quiet—soft footsteps, low voices, the distant hum of medical equipment.
"...."
"...."
Natsuo Todoroki and Fuyumi Todoroki walked beside their mother, eyes moving everywhere.
"This place is…" Fuyumi murmured, "really well organized."
Natsuo frowned slightly.
-Frown
"Isn't this run by that hero? Ra-One?"
Rei nodded, but said nothing more.
-Nod
"...."
"...."
"...."
That silence only deepened their curiosity.
'So… is one of the doctors here the person she's been talking to?'
They stopped in front of a private ward.
The door looked newer than the rest, reinforced, carefully maintained.
Rei's hand trembled—just a little—as she reached for the handle.
She opened it.
"...."
Inside, a white-haired teen—clearly older than Natsuo by a year—sat on the bed, controller in hand, completely focused on a Mario Kart race playing on the TV.
The moment the door opened, he froze.
"...."
The controller lowered.
His breath caught.
"…Mom?"
The word slipped out, quiet and uncertain—like he was afraid saying it too loudly might break something after seeing his siblings along with her.
Time stopped.
Natsuo's heart skipped.
Fuyumi's breath hitched.
"...."
"...."
They both turned to Rei at the same time, eyes wide with confusion and disbelief.
"…Mom?" Natsuo echoed slowly.
Fuyumi's voice trembled. "Why… why did he call you that?"
Their minds raced.
'Another patient? A misunderstanding? Or…'
Natsuo swallowed hard, staring at the boy's white hair, the scars that peeked from beneath hospital clothes.
"…Is he—" he hesitated, "—our brother?"
Rei stepped forward, tears already forming.
"Yes," she whispered.
The room felt like it tilted.
The boy looked between them, panic flickering in his eyes. "I—I didn't mean to— I can go—"
"No,"
Rei said quickly, crossing the room in two steps. "Toya… stay."
That name hit like lightning. Toya.
Natsuo staggered back half a step. Fuyumi covered her mouth, eyes shaking.
"...."
"...."
"…Toya?" She breathed taking deep breath.
The boy—Toya Todoroki—looked down, fingers tightening around the controller.
"I'm sorry," he said hoarsely. "I didn't want to cause trouble. I just—"
Natsuo moved before he could think.
He was in front of the bed in an instant, staring at Toya like he was a ghost that refused to disappear.
"…You're dead," he whispered. "Dad buried you."
Toya flinched when his dad was mentioned.
"I know," he said quietly. "I heard."
Fuyumi stepped forward, tears spilling freely now.
"This isn't—this can't be—"
Rei's voice broke as she spoke.
"He survived. He was taken. He was hurt."
She placed a hand on Toya's shoulder.
"And now… he's should be where he is."
Silence fell again.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Fuyumi and Natsuo sank into the chairs as if their legs had finally given up.
Rei sat between them, Toya on the bed across from them, and slowly—carefully—she explained everything.
How Toya had survived. How he'd been taken.
How Ra-One had found him, pulled him back from the edge, and brought him here. How the coma had ended.
How recovery, real recovery, had finally begun.
Neither sibling interrupted.
"...."
"...."
Fuyumi Todoroki pressed her hands to her lips, tears slipping down silently.
Natsuo Todoroki stared at the floor, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles went white.
When their eyes finally lifted to Toya—They really saw him.
The burns. The scars. The way his shoulders tensed when voices rose even slightly.
Natsuo's breath shook.
"You… you went through all of that alone."
Toya tried to shrug it off.
"I wasn't alone anymore. Not after—"
Rei gently cut in, resting a hand on his arm.
"He was hurt because he tried to become what his father demanded."
That was when the anger hit.
Hot. Sharp. Uncontainable.
Fuyumi's voice cracked.
"All this… because he couldn't accept you as you were?"
Natsuo slammed his hand onto his knee.
"He burned you. For his pride."
Toya flinched—not at the words, but at the pain behind them.
"...."
Rei pulled both her children into her arms, holding them like she used to when they were small.
"Enough," she whispered. "We won't let that anger consume us too."
The room quieted.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Then Rei inhaled—and smiled.
-Sigh
"Well," she said lightly, wiping her eyes, "since we're being honest…"
Both siblings looked up.
"Toya you know what these two thought I was secretly seeing someone."
Dead silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Fuyumi's face turned bright red.
"M-Mom—!"
Natsuo choked looking at his mother with a betrayed look.
"W-Wait, you knew?!"
Toya blinked hearing it and was stunned by the revalation.
-Blink -Blink
"...."
"…Seeing someone?"
Rei laughed, genuinely, the sound filling the room.
-Fufu
"You both looked like detectives plotting a sting operation."
Natsuo buried his face in his hands. "This is humiliating."
Fuyumi groaned. "I can't believe you're teasing us now."
Toya stared—then let out a surprised laugh of his own.
-Haha!!!
"So that's why you two looked tensed when you entered the ward."
Rei smiled at the sound like it was a miracle.
"...."
Laughter replaced the tension. Embarrassment softened the grief. And for the first time in years.
The Todoroki siblings laughed together in the same room.
Not as broken pieces. But as a family, finally beginning to heal.
U.A High School...
The door to Class 3-A slid open with a familiar click.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Conversation died down as Rudra stepped in, hands in his pockets, eyes sweeping across a room full of students who already carried themselves like pros-in-the-making.
"Good timing," someone muttered.
Rudra stopped at the front, resting a hand on the desk.
"With the U.A. Sports Festival coming up in a week," he began, "the first-years are entering the most important phase of their growth."
A few third-years straightened.
"So here's the plan," Rudra continued. "Each of you will be assigned a junior. For one week, you'll train with them at the training grounds. Practical advice. Hard-earned lessons. Things you wish someone had told you."
Murmurs spread through the room.
"Think of it as passing the torch," he added. "Responsibly."
Before anyone else could speak—A hand shot into the air.
"No—two hands!" someone laughed.
"ME! ME! ME!"
Rudra didn't even need to look to know who it was.
Mirio Togata had already jumped to his feet, grin stretching ear to ear.
"I'm in!"
Mirio declared loudly.
"I'll teach them everything! Dodging! Smiling under pressure! How to get punched and still stay positive!"
Someone groaned. "Please don't traumatize them."
Mirio gasped. "Traumatize? No, no—inspire!"
Rudra chuckled despite himself.
-Chuckle
"Enthusiasm noted."
Mirio saluted sharply with his mole eyes gleaming.
"I promise to give them the most valuable lessons of their lives!"
Rudra raised a brow hearing him.
"Within safety regulations."
"…Define safety."
"Sit down, Togata."
"Yes, sir!"
Laughter rippled through the class.
Chuckles!
Rudra nodded, satisfied.
-Nod
"Good. Assignments will be posted by tomorrow. Make sure your juniors walk away stronger—not just louder."
As he turned to leave, Mirio leaned toward his classmates, whispering loudly,
"This is gonna be AWESOME."
Rudra paused at the door.
"...."
"Mirio."
"Yes?"
"…Try not to break any walls by making them attack it."
Mirio flashed a thumbs-up.
"No promises!"
The door closed behind Rudra, leaving behind an energized class—and a new wave of anticipation for the festival to come.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************
(Author's POV)
(A/N):
Guys My New Fic name is: Star Entertainment: Building An Empire.
Check it out... I hope you will like it
Whats your thought's guys.
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give a review!!! And power stone too!!!
Guys it will motivate me more?