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Even at only five years old, Shouto Todoroki knew his family wasn't right. Most of the time his mother was crying and his father was training him "to become a hero to surpass All Might". He wasn't allowed near his own siblings, let alone other kids his age. It was enough to drive anyone crazy. He wanted nothing to do with the lifestyle that had been chosen for him. He didn't want to fight the man he saw saving so many lives on TV. His refuge came in the form of watching news reports on local heroes with his mother.
One day she got up suddenly, saying she had to go check on the water for the tea. He knew it hadn't been long enough since she put the kettle on but he dutifully stayed put. They'd keep watching the program when she came back.
Only one minute turned into five. Five became ten.
He slid off the couch and crept towards the kitchen, stopping as he heard her voice. "Mom... I... I think I might be going crazy... I, I can't take it anymore... Every day, the kids, they get more and more like... like him. Shouto's... That child's left side... sometimes... looks hideous to me!"
She sounded so scared. Why would his face scare her? He just wanted to make her happy, so he could see her smile again!
"I... I can't take care of him anymore," she continued. "If I raise him now, it'll be bad..."
He peeked out from behind the door, feeling his blood run cold. "M... Mommy...?"
She whipped around and clutched the phone to her chest. "Shouto!"
"Why are you scared, Mommy? I won't hurt you, I promise!"
"Go back and watch TV," she said, her voice tight.
He backed up until half his face was hidden. That was it. He looked so much like–
She made a choked noise and reached for the boiling kettle, flinging it towards him.
He screamed and she dropped the teapot, the distorted ringing of the metal lingering for far too long. She dialed emergency services and tried to stop her body from shaking.
"1-1-9, what's your emergency?"
"My son," she managed, "his face... he's burned... You have to help him!"
"Ma'am, please calm down. We've pinpointed your location and are dispatching an ambulance. How serious are the burns?"
"Please help him... he's hurt..." she whimpered.
"Can you tell me how serious the burns are?"
"Help him..."
The line went dead and she dropped the phone, inching closer to Shouto. His cries grew louder and he covered his face, doing his best to move away from her. "Why?" he wailed. "Mommy, why?"
There was the sound of heavy footsteps and she froze where she was as Enji entered the room. "You... Look what you've done!" he roared, towering over her.
She sunk down even father. "Shouto... Shouto, please, let Mommy take a look... I'm not going to hurt you, I promise."
"No!" he cried.
A siren sounded outside and there was a knock at the door. "Paramedics! Open up!"
She tried to get up but Enji pushed her down again. "This will be the last time you meddle with my affairs."
All she could do was watch as the men blocked her view and Shouto's screams grew louder. The last thing she saw was his terror stricken gaze as the other eye was wrapped in bandages.
Enji was on the phone with someone else and she reached out, grabbing the boy's hand one last time. He flinched and was ripped from her grasp.
"Yes... Inflicted burns upon her son... five years old..."
"No," she whispered, "please, no..."
"...Psychiatric hospital."
"No–!"
He faced her again. "I told you this was a critical time. Now look what you've done to your own child."
"NO!"
The sheets on the hospital bed were scratchy and uncomfortable. That was the only thing to go through his head as his father gathered a series of nurses and doctors in his room.
"Shouto is... a special boy," the man explained. "He requires special circumstances."
A doctor started to protest but a glare silenced him. "Nothing too absurd, of course. I understand you all are busy people. All I ask is that Shouto only be treated by you gathered here. He's highly impressionable and his quirk is unstable. I only ask for the safety of others. I've checked all your records and deemed you the best to treat him quickly and effectively. Do I make myself clear?"
A nurse approached him and he turned away so she couldn't see the bandages. "Shouto," she said gently, "does that sound okay to you?"
"I should think my opinion matters more than a child's," Endeavor said pointedly.
"He's the one who will be treated. The patient comes above all else."
"...Of course. Well, Shouto, that's fine, isn't it?"
The boy could only nod to keep himself from crying. He wanted his mother to hold him in her lap and tell him everything would be okay. Instead he was stuck in the hospital while his father took control of his life again.
They finally finished their conversation and Shouto was alone, save for the nurse from before. "Your Daddy is a hero, hmm? You must be proud."
He couldn't fight the tears anymore and he rubbed at the bandages. "Oh!" she cried. "No, you can't do that. With our great doctors and their quirks things are going to be so much better in just a few weeks. You're very lucky it was only a small part of your face that was hurt, and when we're done you won't be able to tell anything ever happened. Smile for me, Shouto."
He sniffed and wiped the other eye. "I don't wanna," he mumbled.
She frowned, lost in thought. "What if I brought you a friend? Would you smile for me then?"
"But he said–!"
"I'm going to tell you a secret. I never really liked Endeavor as a hero and I don't like him as a person. All Might is cooler, don't you think?"
He nodded.
"So I try to live my life how All Might would, by helping others. I want to help you, even if it means not doing what your dad says. Now do you want me to find you a friend?"
"Y-Yes please."
She ruffled his hair. "That's a good boy. You try to get some sleep and I'll get to work. When I see you next I'll tell you what I've got. And if you want to see me sooner, ask for Nurse Itō."
"Thank you," he whispered.
While he began to look forward to Miss Itō's visits, he dreaded those from his father. They were always filled with shouting at the doctors for not fixing him faster and petrified nurses scurrying around, not daring to ask him to be quieter. They tended to be cut short once the man realized little progress was being made and he stormed out.
Miss Itō visited once after Endeavor left, a young boy next to her. "Shouto, there's someone I want you to meet."
The boy came over and shook his hand. "My name's Kaito. Miss Itō says you're the son of the hero Endeavor but I'm not supposed to... Whoops."
Shouto laughed a little. "What's your quirk?"
He smiled again. "Synapse Surge. I can make the electricity in my body move faster so I can have faster reflexes and thinking. I'm not very good at controlling it so I short out a lot..."
"That's so cool! I'm Half-Cold Half-Hot so I can use fire and ice."
"Must've gotten the ice part from your mom, huh? My dad has an electricity quirk, too."
Miss Itō cleared her throat. "You two play nice and I'll leave you alone until it's time for Shouto's next treatment."
"Thank you!" they chorused.
Is this... what it's like to have friends? Shouto wondered as the conversation continued.
"Are you listening?" Kaito said. "I asked why you're in the burn unit."
"I... I..."
He held up his arm, which was grossly discolored. "I used more power than ever but I couldn't control it at all."
He talks about hurting himself so calmly... His arm was so stiff when he moved it!
"So why are you here? Did your fire get out of control?"
"My... fire...?"
He was saved as the door opened and a doctor entered. "Kaito! This patient isn't authorized for visitors. Shouto, it's time for your bath anyway. Let's take your medicine first."
He helped the boy off the bed and shooed the other away.
Kaito, he thought. I don't know his last name... and Daddy can't find out. This'll be my secret.
He smiled to himself. He couldn't wait to tell Mommy all about his friend.