Chapter Text
The silence of the room completely suffocated all those who were present. The Todoroki family sat at the kotatsu , silently eating away. The main course was teriyaki chicken and rice however Shoto opted for a bowl of soba instead.
Fuyumi and Enji were watching TV while eating their meal. Shoto was slurping his noodles and texting his friends on their class group chat. While Natsuo , he was just staring at the wall. You didn't even need to know him to tell that something was wrong.
"Natsu… You okay? Your food is getting cold." Fuyumi asked him, concern written all over her face.
"I'm sorry. I just can't." Was all Natsuo could muttered before he abruptly left.
"What was that about ?" Shoto asked , finally looking up from his phone.
"I don't know… " Fuyumi took in a big sigh. "Lately he keeps leaving for no reason. He even did it when we were visiting mom earlier! He never does that."
"He left you and Rei?" Enji asked.
"Yeah! He was all talkative like usual but then out of nowhere he just walked out the room." Fuyumi confessed with tears starting to form. "He's starting to leave us." She blurted out , shortly breaking out into full on sobs. " I just wanted a family like everyone else has. I just want to see my family eating a meal with one another." Fuyumi cried into her hand.
Enji, clearly unused to a situation like this simply started to pat her back. " Don't worry. One day you'll get your wish." He stated clearly awkward with this type of situation.
Shoto stared at his father and sister from across the kotatsu. "I'll go look for him." He simply stated while stepping out of the room.
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Natuo sat on the steps of the Todoroki household. He was obviously doing a breathing exercise. He was staring off into the woods that were near the house.
Shoto found him easily, shocked that he hasn't called a taxi and left yet. "Natsu? What are you doing? " He asked him, taking in every detail of what Natsuo was doing. He seemed to be counting and clenching his hands together.
"I knew it was a bad idea to come. I don't know how Fuyumi talked me into having dinner. " Natsuo answered.
"She's Fuyumi. If anyone can talk you into stuff , it's her. Speaking of Fuyumi," Shoto glanced to the side , refusing to look at Natsuo." She mentioned that you ran out when visiting mother too. So it's not just father being here is it?"
Natsuo clicked his tongue at Shoto." I ran out cause it had something to do with him." He corrected, voice laced with anger and frustration.
"What? I highly doubt that mom would mention him." Shoto glanced at him, confused.
"It was Fuyumi's doing," He crossed his arms over his chest. "She was talking about how you've been doing in school. Then she brought up about how he been trying to be a better 'father' and make up for his 'mistakes'."
"That's what he says he's trying to do." Shoto sighed. "Right now, is waiting time , to see if he's gonna keep his word."
"I don't understand." Natsuo started pressing his nails into his skin. "You and Fuyumi, even mom are actually thinking about giving him a chance. After everything he did!" Natsuo dug his nails deeper into his skin, not hard enough to draw blood but enough to bruise.
"I mean I won't ever forgive him for what he did to mom." Shoto confessed. "But he might change?" Shoto asked himself more than Natsuo." I mean just look at me. I changed a lot ov-"
"Shoto." Natsuo interrupted him. "You've never abused anyone in your family. You were just cold to people, that's nothing compared to him." Natsuo banged his fist into the step." You never abused someone till they snapped! You've never neglected anyone! You never lead someone to their deaths!" He shouted, still staring into the woods.
"Brother. Calm down." Shoto tried to make him stop before he had a full blown melt down. "I can get you a taxi. You're obviously not in the mood to be here." Shoto suggested, but in all honesty , he knew Natsuo was never in the mood.
"Yeah. I would like that." Natsuo answered coldly. Shoto stood up and went back inside, ordering the taxi and explaining to Fuyumi and his father what had happened.