Chapter Text
For merely a second, Shouto couldn't feel the burn of the sun, nor could he hear the kids running around the fare enjoying themselves. Inasa's question was just that unexpected.
"So, uh, can I stay over at your place tonight?" said Inasa.
The request was so strange because Inasa had already explained his sleeping plans to Shouto and this wasn't part of it.
"What about the hotel you're staying at?" he replied.
Inasa lived on the other side of Japan, so when he went to see Shouto for one week of summer, he was supposed to book a hotel for an entire week.
"Well, about that…" Inasa laughed. "I didn't actually book an entire week."
Inasa studied Shouto's reaction to each word, and he was oh so grateful that he didn't look pissed. Mostly just surprised.
"Was it too expensive? I told you to let me help out if it was too much."
"Yeah, sorry." he said, rubbing the back of his head and wearing an idiot's smile. "I didn't have the heart to tell you."
Shouto sighed. He needed a moment to think.
"Fine, you can stay over for the rest of the week. I'm sure they won't mind, it's only a few days and we'll be out most of the time."
So thankful that Shouto actually approved, Inasa breathed a sigh of relief that turned into a joyful shout.
"I could hug you right now! Thank you so much Shouto!"
After spending one more hour at the fare, Shouto returned to the Todoroki household, this time accompanied by Inasa. The first person they came across was Fuyumi, who sat in the living room enjoying the soap opera that was currently playing.
"Hey, sis." said Shouto.
"Oh! Shouto, welcome back! Who's this with you?" she said, pausing the TV and walking over to give a proper greeting.
"I am Yoarashi Inasa! It's a pleasure to meet you!" he said, followed by his signature move of slamming his head to the ground.
Fuyumi reeled back at the suddenness of such an extravagant greeting.
"He does that." added Shouto.
"Often?!"
"Yeah."
"Oh. Well, thank you Inasa, you can get up now." said Fuyumi. She was quite concerned about if he had hurt his head.
When Inasa raised his head again, it was bleeding, but Inasa smiled as if he didn't care.
"Anyway, Fuyumi, he'll be staying over for a few days if you don't mind." said Shouto.
While he explained the hotel situation, he was confident that Fuyumi, of all household members, wouldn't have a problem with a friend of his staying over.
"But, Shouto. Did you forget?" she said.
"Forget what?"
Seeing how Fuyumi reacted, Shouto began to worry.
"Father booked a vacation for us all, remember? Tomorrow.” she said.
"Oh."
Then it came. The irritating sensation in the back of Shouto’s head. How could he forget? Their father had told them all himself, about a month back. Enji booked a luxurious, expensive getaway for the family, except he wouldn’t be going. The number one hero didn’t have that kind of free time. Shouto, as well as the other siblings, didn’t understand why he planned a gift like this. They could only suspect this was some sort of shallow attempt at atonement. Still, it wouldn't hurt to take a vacation.
“Sorry, Inasa. I have no idea how I forgot. Everyone but my father is going to be away for some time, so you can’t stay.” he explained. Inasa saw how guilty he looked.
“Don’t look so guilty! Besides, I don’t see why I can’t stay.” he replied.
Shouto and Fuyumi looked at each other. None of them understood it. Looking back at Inasa, they both confusingly said “huh?”
“You said your father will still be here, right? I can just stay with him.”
Eyebrows were raised. An outlandish suggestion, it would never happen.
“No. Absolutely not. We can fix this easily by having my father arrange for you to be taken home. It’s that simple.” said Shouto.
“Wait, Shouto-” said Inasa, stopping when he took a second to notice Fuyumi was still here. “My apologies, Fuyumi, but could I talk with Shouto alone?”
After politely asking for privacy, Fuyumi disappeared back into her soap opera so Shouto and Inasa could talk alone, where Inasa confessed with a whisper.
“Shouto, could I just stay here for a few days? Please?” he begged.
“Why would you want to stay here? We’ll all be gone except my father. I even feel awkward about it.” he explained. “Besides, getting you home isn’t a problem. I’m sure my father would cover any costs fairly easily.”
“The thing is, Shouto. I don’t actually want to go back, yet.” he said. “The situation back home is…”
Further words weren’t necessary. They’d talked about this before.
“I understand. I’m sorry about that.” said Shouto.
Inasa opened up to him in the past - told him things he wouldn't tell anyone else. That's why Shouto was able to understand Inasa's situation in a near instant. However, he was still unsure about this entire thing.
There were other options to consider. Booking hotel again? No, on such short notice, that would never work. They were always full at this time of year. Still, there was just something uncomfortable about leaving his friend at home with his father. But Inasa needed help. That was the most important thing.
“Fine. We need to talk to my father then. He’d need to agree to this.” said Shouto, and Inasa nodded in agreement.
Shouto began to walk to his father’s room, gesturing to Inasa to follow along. As they walked, he continued to speak.
“Unfortunately, I can’t stay behind. As much as I don’t want to abandon you like this, I forgot that this was the week I go on vacation. I can’t turn this down so simply, my father paid a lot for it. If this is him trying to be better, I'm going to let him try. Anyway, this is ultimately my fault, so I apologise.”
“No, Shouto, I take full responsibility for this situation I’ve put you in! I hope you can forgive me.” said Inasa.
Putting his hand over his heart, he was sincere. When he first asked his friend if he could stay over, he thought the idea would be fun. But the situation changed and now, he felt like such a burden.
Contrarily, Shouto couldn't bring himself to think of Inasa as a burden at all. Not when he knew why Inasa asked this of him.
“Well, first, we have to convince my father.” said Shouto.
Moments later, the pair stood before the man himself. Japan's number one hero, Endeavor. Shouto's father. He was sitting at the desk in his room and Shouto swore he'd seen this sight before. The only difference was, this time, the room wasn't in flames. This time, Shouto didn't think talking was a bad idea. He didn't hesitate to call out to him; to steal his attention regardless of what the man was busy with.
"Father, I have something to ask of you." he said.
Enji turned around immediately, greeted by his son and a boy with an almost restrained smile on his face.
"What is it, Shouto? And you…" he saw Inasa, then searched his thoughts. "You're the kid from the remedial course."
Inasa was happy he remembered.
"Good to see you again, Mr. Endeavor!"
"Right…"
Inasa's enthusiasm wasn't reciprocated by Enji, who instead wanted to get straight to the point.
"Shouto, you were asking something?"
Shouto provided context before asking for such a favour from his father. He explained how the situation they're in came to be - disclosing everything he felt was necessary. However, he decided it was best to omit what Inasa told him in private. After Enji had been updated on the situation, Shouto asked.
"Can Inasa stay here while we're away?"
He swallowed. Despite unloading all the context, the question was as heavy as Shouto expected it to be from the start. Truthfully, he believed that there was no chance his father would agree to such a request, but Inasa needed this. When they talked in private, Shouto knew. From the few words Inasa uttered, Shouto already understood how his friend felt. Could Shouto be the helping hand that he himself used to so desperately long for? Maybe, just maybe, if his father were to say yes…
"Absolutely not."
Enji's commanding voice shattered that glimmer of hope Shouto had just conjured. So effortlessly. Having lived with him for years, Shouto knew the stubbornness of his father. Pursuing any further would be pointless - the decision was final.
But Inasa didn't see the man the same way Shouto did.
"Please!"
Both Todorokis looked down, and what they saw was a boy begging. Inasa was on his knees, head on the ground as he begged Enji to let him stay. This position was almost as striking as the desperation the other two felt in his voice. It was a clear cry for help.
Enji and Shouto were at a loss for words. How were they supposed to respond to this? Enji had to say something, but what? Shouto empathised with Inasa, but Enji was a mixture of confused and sympathetic. Acting on confusion, he looked at his son to try making sense of things, and it worked.
Seeing his son's eyes, Enji knew exactly what he needed to do. If he did anything else but this - how could he face his son ever again? His son's eyes plead, like they mirrored the feelings of the boy beside him. Of course, it was Enji's duty to help.
"Get up, kid." he said.
Inasa did as instructed before Enji continued.
"Fine. You can stay in this home for a while." he said.
"Really?!" said Inasa, already bubbling with joy and relief at the change in answer.
"Yes. Just don't bother me, I'm a busy man."
"Thank you." said Shouto.
It was slight, but he bowed to his father.
That's how Enji knew for sure. This was incredibly important to Shouto. But he wondered why.
Their reactions don't seem to be appropriate for what he was told by Shouto. Why did those two act like a life had just been saved? He deduced that he wasn't being told the whole story… but he could ask later.
"Is that all?" he asked. "Anything else you need?"
"No, that's all." replied Shouto.
Enji turned back to his desk.
"Show him around the house. Food, drink, entertainment. Anything he might need while you're all away. I won't have the time to do it myself when you're all gone." said Enji.
Shouto's translation of what his father said would be 'make sure he doesn't bother me.' A fair condition.
So Shouto did exactly as he was told.
By the afternoon of the next day, every Todoroki but Enji was out of the house and on their way to an expensive getaway. While the family enjoyed themselves, Enji sat at a desk in his room. In front of him was a ridiculous number of documents from the Pro Heroes Association. It would take the whole day to read through all of these.
When All Might retired, the papers came flooding in. A part of Enji wishes he could shove most of the paperwork onto his assistants, but he knows he wouldn't be satisfied if he didn't know all the information that he could. Besides, so many of these required a signature from Endeavor himself anyway.
After finishing just one sheet of paperwork, he was about to sign the paper until he heard someone knocking on his room door.
"What?" he answered.
Inasa walked in, looking slightly guilty, with a bit of an innocent smile thrown in.
"I know you just explained it to me, but I forgot. How do I get the TV channel to change again?" he said.
Enji wasn't kind enough to not audibly grunt in frustration.
"Can you come and show me yourself?" said Inasa.
This was going to be the longest few days of Enji's life.