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Natsuo’s hands trembled. He had not been thinking when he summoned the ice that pierced Endeavor through the back. Bile rose in his throat as he watched Endeavor’s body go slack with only the frozen spear still holding him up. The former Flame Hero’s fingers slid from Dabi’s throat, leaving the B-Class villain gasping for air and massaging the new bruises.
Natsuo shakily walked forward. The urge to face his tormentor became a need he could not ignore. Blood dripped from Endeavor’s mouth as his vacant eyes stared up. His fire was only wisps of smoke. Still, Natsuo pressed two fingers to the imposing figure’s neck to be sure.
Nothing.
A storm of emotions swept through the ex-med student. Yes, he would be an ex-med student now. He broke their golden rule after all: do no harm. With that, he chuckled before it became uncontrollable laughter and tears rolled down his face. Then, a realization struck. Despite the war of intense feelings going on in his head, Natsuo noticed one was missing. He didn’t feel any guilt at what he had done.
Because, he had paid back the evil the Todoroki family had dealt him.
Memories swarmed in his mind’s eye. His mother not protecting them from Endeavor’s wrath before simply abandoning them, Fuyumi turning a blind eye and insisting on acting like they were a loving family, Shoto being the reason Toya was gone and Endeavor’s perfect son… Yes, they had paid for their crimes. A pang of sadness went through Natsuo at the loss of so much life, but in his eyes, it was justified and he would not mourn them.
“Natsuo?” Dabi looked… peculiar. Natsuo recognized the expression, but he couldn’t place it. The more he thought about it, it became clear. To his brother, Natsuo probably appeared to be suffering from a psychotic break, rather than the exhilarating liberation from the Todoroki chains and the “heroic” tyrant who had crafted them.
“Natsuo?” Dabi tried again, cautiously approached. His stance was defensive as if he expected his younger brother to attack, but the white-haired boy was too distracted at being called Natsuo. It just… didn’t fit anymore. Natsuo was as dead as Toya. That much was clear. A new name would be required for this rebirth.
After all, Endeavor was gone at long last. Now, it was only fair that Manumit took center stage on this new path. Maybe, free some other families along the way… Manumit smiled before apologizing to his brother. He had a lot to think about.