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Even he could see through the lie that they were at the beach house because it was 'a better training environment'. The media was getting suspicious of his father's actions and he needed to get away for awhile.
It was a nice change of scenery. A five minute walk from a beach with a beautiful view, and quaint shops downtown that didn't know his siblings' names. He could almost pretend he was just a normal kid on vacation.
Almost.
"Shouto!" came the familiar gruff voice. "If you're not down here in two minutes I'm assuming you forfeit the fight and are willing to face punishment."
His feet thundered down the stairs and he practically slid to a stop in front of his father. "S-Sorry."
"Meet me on the beach. We're trying something new today."
He knew nothing good would come out of that but didn't dare disobey the man, so he pulled on his shoes and told Fuyumi he was going to spar. She looked horrified but didn't say anything.
He was already waiting. Shouto kept one eye on him as he got closer. Even without his hero costume aflame he was intimidating. Every fiber of the boy's being screamed run.
He'd just barely stepped onto the sand when Enji charged him. He froze for a second before instincts kicked in and he rolled to the side, feet unable to find purchase.
"Get up and fight me! You are not to leave this beach until you take me down!"
So that's what he meant by something new, he thought. Not a new technique but a terrain. How is he not slipping when he's so much heavier than me?
Before he could get an answer he was charged again and a flame covered fist connected with his cheek.
He wasn't fast enough getting to his feet and he barely had time to cover himself in ice before he suffered a knee to the stomach.
"Pathetic," Enji spat. "Use your fire or suffer!"
"You talk an awful lot like a villain for the number two hero," he muttered, rushing the man and finally landing a solid punch on him.
He drew back and stared in horror as it did nothing. He... he didn't even slide a little and I'm struggling with every step! He can't possibly be used to this. There has to be another explanation.
As he suffered another blow and lay in the sand he noticed distinct footprints from where his father had been standing a moment before.
He's keeping his back to the ocean... so he's staying on the wet sand! He's bigger, stronger, and cheating.
He was already formulating a plan as he shakily got to his feet once more.
He waited for his father to strike first and lunged left. Every time the larger man took aim he jumped out of the way. Enji didn't even realize what was going on until the sand felt hot under his feet and Shouto was rushing at him, the ocean glinting behind him.
He'd coated his hand in ice at the last second and jumped, everything falling into place as his fist connected with the man's face.
Enji went down, unable to find purchase on the slick sand and gravity working against him. Shouto walked around him, cradling his hand as the remaining ice splintered and fell. "I don't need my fire. And I don't need to cheat."
He glared at the boy and wiped at his now bloody nose. "You–"
"I took you down. I can leave the beach."
"Mark my words, boy, I will burn this rebellious streak out of you if I must."
Shouto wasn't paying attention, having grabbed a handful of sand. He ignited his hand and watched as it slowly liquidated. When he extinguished the flames he observed his new glass trinket with a smile.
Fuyumi nearly screamed when he entered the house again, shaking sand out of his shoes and hair. He licked at a bloody lip and thrust the glass at her.
"Did you–?"
"Hide it before he comes back."
She pulled him into a hug. "Don't do anything to make him mad."
"Too late," he said sheepishly.
He saw his brother slinking upstairs and jogged to catch up. "Ryou!"
"Huh?!"
Shouto noticed how his eyes darted around nervously and offered a friendly smile. "Here, I made you something."
He simply stared at the glass, his lips curling back in a sneer. "You're just now figuring this out? Too busy losing fights, huh?"
"Hey, I'm just trying to be nice."
"Drop the act, Shouto. You and I are on two different levels so stop pretending we're equals."
"What are you–?"
He swatted the glass out of the boy's hand and laughed as it shattered.
"Why would you do that?!" he cried.
For just a second Shouto saw something darker in his brother's eyes. "Because none of this matters. Enjoy your training while it lasts."
The door was suddenly shut in his face.
He'd known for years that he and his siblings had strained relationships. Sosuke barely talked with him even in the beginning. It wasn't mandated by their father, but just the nine year difference between them. They were broken to begin with. Fuyumi did her best to talk to him and make sure he was okay, only partially by his orders. Ryou didn't have an excuse. With only three years between them he was practically expected to be the doting yet annoying older brother. It's certainly what people asked when they found out he had siblings.
And yet... he wasn't. Any time he tried to fit his role he was hurt for it. Shouto knew it was only a matter of time before he drew away like the others. He just didn't think that would be the thing to break him.
The drive home was silent except for the occasional curse as their father fiddled with the air conditioner. Ryou sat up front, an honor usually reserved for Fuyumi, claiming he couldn't bear to sit with "that freak". She took the backseat and held his hand most of the drive, partially to comfort him and partially because her quirk was keeping them cool.
Shouto simply stared out the window, watching everything move around him. At one point he looked over and realized Fuyumi was asleep, her glasses sliding off her face. He put them in the pocket of her blouse.
He met Ryou's gaze in the rearview mirror and was tempted to smile, but all he got was a scowl. He wondered when the older boy had started spiking his hair like that.