Chapter Text
“Tell me what happened with this Shoto kid.” Present Mic says, sitting Hanta down in his office. “Tell us everything.”
Hanta sighs. “When Shoto first came to UA, he was closed-off. Quiet. Since his father didn’t let him speak to his siblings…he wasn’t able to properly communicate with us all. He came in on recommendations, too.
“Then, in the Sports Festival, he fought me. He…he was actually pretty angry, I think. His team also placed first in the Cavalry Battle, but, uh, he froze me entirely in ice–”
“What was his quirk?” Aizawa cuts in.
“Half hot, half cold. Y’know, like, his left side is fire, and his right side is ice.” Hanta explains. “Then, he started to be a little less cold. A lot nicer. We—we always joked that when he got ahold of his fire, the coldness went away. It made him feel better about using his father’s power.”
“And, he didn’t use Endeavor’s power because…?”
“The burn on his face—his mother gave him it. Endeavor drove Rei to insanity, and so she burned Shoto’s left side, because it looked the most like his father’s.” Hanta tells Mic. “It was an ice burn, though. She did try to fix it—she just made it even worse.”
Aizawa sighs. “And…after?” Hanta sighs.
“He was partnered with Yaoyorozu in the exams, fighting against Aizawa. At the training camp, he was partnered with Bakugo.” Hanta says.
Then, it clicks in his head. There’s 20 students in a class. So, if Shoto is gone…
“Is there anyone else in our class?” Hanta asks. “Like, someone that joined on recommendations?”
Aizawa nods. “Inasa Yoarashi. Why?” Of course. That was the guy that Shoto had lost to during the licence exam.
At least it isn’t someone Hanta doesn’t know. When Inasa spoke to him, while he was at the Remedial Course with Shoto, he seemed pretty respectful and friendly.
Hanta nods. “Just checking. Shoto also failed the exam first time, and had to retake it—“
“You got to retake exams?” Mic asks. Hanta’s head shoots up. “Hm…”
“Wait.” Hanta’s eyes widen, “Bakugo didn’t retake the exam?” Mic shakes his head.
Aizawa sighs. “Maybe that would solve his fighting problem.”
“Fighting problem?” Bakugo had never gotten into a fight in school—yeah, he was a complete hothead, but why would he get into a fight? In school?
“Yes. He seems to love fighting Midoriya any time he gets. That’s why the two of them are always so pissy with each other.” Mic tells Hanta.
“Oh.” Hanta says, “Well, I think that’s all.”
Aizawa raises an eyebrow. “It is?” Hanta nods. “Well, then. Come with me.”
Hanta’s eyes narrow as Aizawa gets up. “Where are we going?” His teacher just shakes his head, and carries on walking out of the room. Hanta frantically gets up, and follows Aizawa out into the hallway.
They walk up one stairwell, and get to a large conference room, with a long, rounded table in the middle. Hanta’s eyes widen as he walks in, and sees the Todoroki family, sitting down, sending inquisitive looks at Aizawa.
“Who’s this?” Endeavor asks gruffly, and Hanta glares at him.
“Sero Hanta.” Aizawa says, “This is—“
“Yeah, I know.” Hanta makes out through gritted teeth. Endeavor doesn’t seem phased, and he just holds his hand out.
“Hello, Sero.” Hanta stares down at his hand, then looks back up at his face. “Don’t worry, it’s cooled down.”
Hanta turns, and walks away. Todoroki Endeavor. Acting like this? What the hell?
Rei and Endeavor share a look, then Hanta sits down. “I think…that you two have another son.”
Rei’s eyes narrow. “What?”
“That’s impossible.” Endeavor says.
“Mom and Dad never tried for another kid after us.” Natsuo says. “They didn’t even think about it–what are you talking about–”
“We did think about it, Natsu. We just never went through with it.” Rei turns to Hanta. “What are you trying to say?”
“I know a boy called Todoroki Shoto. He has half-white, half-red hair, and a scar on the left side of his face.” Hanta tells her. “Yesterday, I woke up, and he wasn’t there anymore.”
Fuyumi sighs. “Could just be a dream that mixes with reality. That feels like you were actually there. It’ll tide over in a day or two–”
“No.” Hanta says firmly. “Shoto’s real.”
Dabi–Touya–sighs. “Why are we wasting our time on this? I have a patrol in an hour.” A patrol. Because the villain is now a hero. Of course.
Hanta tackles that first. “Touya.” The man looks at him. “From what I’m used to, you’re a villain called Dabi.”
“...I’m a what?” Touya asks, starting to stand up before his sister pulls him back down. “What kind of drugs is this kid on?”
“None!” Hanta shouts, probably sounding a bit too defensive. “I’m not on any drugs. I was scared of you yesterday because I thought you were a villain. But, you’re not. Not here, at least. Dabi has more burns, and staples all over his face at the edge of the scars. And, he has black hair. I didn’t even know he was a Todoroki until I realised how similar you look to him.”
Touya shrugs. “Probably just a coincidence. Can we leave now?” His mother glares at him.
“No.” Hanta says. “I need to know what’s happening. I need to know why this happened.”
Endeavor sighs. “Look kid, I don’t–”
“Don’t even get me started on you.” Endeavor’s eyes narrow. “You’re the worst of them all.” Hanta continues, “Training your kids beyond their breaking point, forcing them to become heroes, abusing your–”
“Whoah!” Mic yells, defusing the situation. “Let’s not accuse anyone–”
“It happened from where I know!” Hanta yells. “Aren’t I supposed to be telling them about that?”
“Alright, alright.” Rei says in her usual calm voice, and the room falls silent. “Look, I know you must be confused and scared, but this could all just be one big misunderstanding on your part. There is no Todoroki Shoto. Okay?”
“But there is.” Hanta bangs his fists on the table, waking up Natsuo from his nap with a jump. “And I know him. He got in on recommendations, he got second in the Sports Festival, his hair is half-white, half-red, he failed the provisional licence exam and retook it to get his licence, and he is real.”
Endeavour sighs. “I believe, kid…that you are experiencing a state of schizophrenia.”
“I am not schizophrenic!” Hanta yells.
“Yes, you are.”
He jumps out of his seat. “I’m not! Todoroki Shoto is a real person and he’s my boyfriend! And nobody is fucking listening to me!” Hanta screams.
“Okay, okay.” Aizawa starts to pull him out of the room, as Hanta screams and thrashes around. The door slams in his face, and Aizawa turns him around. “Hey! Calm down!” He grabs Hanta’s fists, and Hanta freezes, his breath heavy.
“That went well!” Mic shouts, in his usual cheery voice. Aizawa glares at him, and Hanta pulls away, storming down the hallway. “Hey! We’re not done here!”
“I am!” Hanta shouts, pushing past Hawks.
“Hey, kid, what happened?” Hawks asks, trying to turn him back around. Hanta just shakes his head, and only turns around when he’s at the end of the hallway, spotting Hawks embracing Touya.
This place just gets weirder and weirder.
Hanta shakes his head, and leaves the building, heading back to the dorms.
-
He sits in his dorm that night, staring at the wall in front of him. Shoto is gone. He’s gone. He’s never even existed in the first place.
Hanta can feel his breath shorten, and he puts his head in his hands, staring at his calloused fingers. “Shoto, please—“ He mutters, banging his elbows against his knees. “Fuck.”
A knock sounds at Hanta’s door, and he snaps out of the start of a mental spiral. “Yeah?”
“It’s me!” Izuku’s voice comes from the other side.
“Open the damn door!” Katsuki? And Izuku? Why’re they together? Hanta thinks, getting up and opening the door.
“Uh, yeah?” Hanta asks, staring at the two boys. Izuku is standing in front of him, whereas Katsuki’s off to the side, leaning against the doorframe. “What do you need?”
Izuku shifts on his feet, and Katsuki glares at him. “Go on. I didn’t come all this way for nothing, Deku.”
Izuku glares back at Katsuki, then looks at Hanta. “We want to help you. Well, I want to help you, I don’t know why Kacchan’s here—“
“You practically begged me to come up here like a lost puppy!” Katsuki yells.
“…Help me with what?” Hanta asks, ignoring what Katsuki’s saying.
Izuku locks eyes with Hanta. “Finding Todoroki Shoto.”