Work Text:
Hey Dad! Dad!
Guess what I can do?
I can light fires —
a lotta fires —
more than that little brat
can!
Look at me! Look at me!
Your firstborn that’s oh-so perfect!
Your second and third could never compare!
Your fourth will never surpass me!
Give me a chance to continue sparking this fire!
Don’t put it out now!
You started it, Dad!
(I remember the day
my old man crouched down,
a tired look in his eyes.
He said, “Okay.
I’ll train you, Touya.”
And it felt like my prayers
had been answered.)
Dad! Dad!
Didn’t I say your firstborn was perfect?
Your fourth just doesn’t understand
how much power we hold in our
bloodline!
I see that look in your eyes —
are you pitying me?
These scars mean nothing
compared to your approval!
I’ll hurt and I’ll bleed
to prove it to you!
Keep your eyes on me,
Dad! Ignore the fourth
and worship your creation!
(You were losing faith in me.
You saw me as a failure.
Were Natsu and Fuyumi
even better options than me?)
Dad, look!
They all pity me, too!
From my win at the Sports Festival
to becoming the top student
at U.A.!
Abusive? Please!
You’re the greatest trainer alive!
Who dares to insult my father?
Only I can see his greatness!
(I idolized you,
wearing rose-colored
glasses.)
This fire can’t stop now!
How else will I keep your attention?
Who cares about Mom and how she’s
in the hospital now?
Focus on your firstborn perfection!
(Mom, I’m sorry.
I thought I shouldn’t care because
Dad didn’t seem to care.
I hope those flowers
made it up to you.)
Hey, Dad.
Why are your eyes still on him?
The fourth is only a byproduct.
He may be half Mom and half you,
but he isn’t as strong me.
Take your eyes off him!
(He never did.)
Your son is reaching greater heights!
Even Icarus would scream for me!
(Icarus was burned.
Icarus was stupid.
I’m still a fool for wanting
to burn brighter for you.)
Dad.
The fourth went out like a light
at the Sports Festival.
He couldn’t handle your magnificent power.
You still think that puppet is better.
(Was I…
nothing but
a failed product to you?)
Dad,
what if I disappeared?
“Son of the Number Two hero
vanishes from thin air” —
doesn’t that sound like a great
headline?
(Thanks to you,
I realized that I wanted
to do something even greater.
Something that would force you to say,
“I should’ve pay attention to you,”
as I’d burn up in flames.)
Father,
destroying you
and your puppet would be best.
You refused to see my potential.
Even after all those years of staying loyal to you, I was nothing but a faulty backup.
(I hate you.
One day,
I will change your life
for the worse.)
Father,
thank you for pouring gasoline into the fire.
For if you had never done that,
I would’ve never realized my true purpose:
to destroy you and the puppet who ruined it all.