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The hero world wasn't ready when hero-in-training Shouto came forward.
Neither was the world of villains, really.
Shouto himself wasn't even really ready. He was just… exceptionally tired, and asked some specific questions in a certain order, and before long the truth was out there.
BREAKING: SON OF ENDEAVOR ALLEGES ABUSE
Earlier today, UA students rescued a train full of commuters after villains attacked the Central Subway B Line. Several of the hero students were on board when the tunnels collapsed, leading to a day-long rescue operation. Their praiseworthy efforts are being overshadowed, however, by revelations that came afterwards. In a comment at the scene, Todoroki Shouto said… [read more]
@ RealHPSC : We are grateful for the efforts of the many heroes who saved over 200 lives today in the Musutafu subway attack.
@ RealHPSC : We take all allegations of hero abuse seriously, but cannot comment until internal investigations are complete. We strive, as always, to serve the public.
@ HeroWatch : @ RealHPSC stop trying to remove the video. It's harassment and violation of free speech.
@ fanwoman_notgirl : listen # shouto is a precious baby and I would fight any1 for him, # Endeavor included
[News Video Transcript, May 12]
[The video shows a disaster zone that used to be a subway station. Shouto Todoroki is shown squinting against the camera crew's lights. His hair and clothes are full of concrete dust, and he's swaying on his feet. Every other hero student got a similar interview, but most news sites are clipping it down to only Shouto's portion.]
Reporter: Is there anything you would like to tell your family at home?
Shouto: No.
[The reporter is visibly confused.]
Reporter: Why? I'm sure your parents are worried and proud. This newscast might be the first thing to reach them.
Shouto: Mother doesn't get TV news in the hospital where Endeavor sent her. And his pride is worthless.
[The reporter’s voice gets noticeably higher-pitched and faster.]
Reporter: Could you elaborate on that?
Shouto: Endeavor's pride ruined my family, destroyed my mother, and killed my brother. Can you please get this light out of my face? I've been awake 30 hours, saving people. My childhood abuse is irrelevant. I want a nap.
[Shouto abruptly leaves the frame, and the reporter’s mouth hangs open until the video cuts out.]
No one was ready when A-class villain Dabi approached Todoroki Shouto in public.
Not even Dabi.
He'd gone straight towards UA with no plans or backup. It's not like he'd get in the front gate. Even knowing this, rage dragged Dabi there.
Luck of some kind (good? bad? who could tell) led to them meeting on the street, outside the konbini closest to the school. Dabi was already smoking through his coat, so he was hard to miss.
“You!” he growled.
The small group of hero students froze.
“You stole my fucking revenge, you brat! That reveal was mine!”
The students were muttering to each other now. Shouto himself wasn't listening to them, though. He took a tentative step forward. One of the girls tried to pull him back, but he didn't move.
“What are you talking about?”
“Your little interview. Which had no style at all, by the way. Mine was going to have dancing and fire and probably murder, but no. You wanted a nap. ”
“You…” Shouto frowned, clearly doing some mental calculations, “wanted revenge? On Endeavor?”
Dabi screeched in frustration, venting some fire from his fingertips as he threw his hands in the air.
“Come on, little brother. With all your expensive private tutors, you shouldn't be this much of an idiot.”
Shouto visibly froze, before gently pulling free of the girl holding his wrist. He said something to the other students, and they warily nodded. Then, Shouto walked forward towards the villain alone.
He was much closer when he whispered, “Touya-nii?”
Dabi glared fiercely, but something in his expression broke a little, and his eyes started bleeding tears. Shouto threw his arms around him in a massive hug.
Dabi allowed it.
BREAKING NEWS: MORE TODOROKI SECRETS?
In a clip recently filmed by civilian bystanders, A-Class Villain Codename Dabi was seen confronting a group of UA hero students in the street. Although all seemed nervous, the students remained composed as he seemingly yelled at them without approaching. The poor audio quality of the video prevents us from hearing every word, but it seems Dabi had his own secrets to share about Endeavor, and… [read more.]
[News Video Transcript, May 15]
[Todoroki Shouto has just left the grounds of UA. Reporters are waiting there en masse, and begin shouting at once. The following questions are audible in the noise:]
“Shouto! Your fans were devastated to see you let a deadly villain go without a fight. What do you want to say to them?”
“What was Dabi yelling at you?”
“Shouto! Is it true you and Dabi have been carrying on a secret love affair?”
“Have you heard from Endeavor since your outburst at the subway?”
“Are you rejecting the side of heroes, Shouto?”
[UA professor Aizawa Shouta appears in front of Todoroki. He tries to quiet the crowd with hand motions and a raised voice. After this fails, he starts destroying microphones and recording equipment. Reporters scatter. Video ends.]
@ UA_Official : The safety of our students is paramount. Today, one of our teachers acted to protect a student–not from villains, but from reporters. We stand behind his decision to disperse the aggressive crowd in defense of a minor.
@ TokyoReporter : @ UA_Official has just confirmed they'll use violence to suppress the # freepress . What next?
@ user52769081 : Hey @ DietofJapan who do you let be a teacher these days jfc
@ herothirster5000 : screw todoroki drama, tell me everything about # eraserhead right now *fans self*
[From the phone of Todoroki Shouto]
Nii-san: know what would rly piss dad off
Shouto: What?
Nii-san: making out on live television
Shouto: I believe I've gotten in enough trouble with live television recently
Nii-san: westerners say trouble comes in 3s. you need 1 more
Shouto: You are also my brother.
Nii-san: yea so
Shouto: Generally brothers do not ‘make out’ with each other.
Nii-san: exactly! that's why it would destroy dad. imagine the horror
Shouto: …..tempting.
Nii-san: i'll let you practice first too
Shouto: Practice… kissing?
Nii-san: don't want your first kiss ever on tv right?
Shouto: I'll think about it.
@ Endeavor : Today # Endeavor rescued two dozen shoppers and employees trapped in a burning building. Read more here .
@ junkitpunkit : did @ endeavor set it tho
@j unkitpunkit : yesss blocked by # endeavor hey look mom i made it
@ Endeavor : Today # Endeavor thwarted a villain scheme that would have killed hundreds. Read more here .
@ HeroWatch : @ Endeavor still waiting on that official comment… you know the one.
@ Endeavor : Today # Endeavor rescued eight civilians from a multi-lane crash and also sent three villains to jail. Read more here.
@ endeavorismydaddy : Thank you # Endeavor we still believe in you!!
@ Endeavor : Today # Endeavor took part in a charity event raising thousands of dollars for the victims of villain attacks. Read more here .
@ nohero3snoway : @ Endeavor what about the victims in your own family?
[From the phone of Todoroki Shouto]
Natsu-nii: Sho you have to pick up the phone eventually
Natsu-nii: Sho come on
Natsu-nii: Yumi's going to cry if you don't pick up the phone
Natsu-nii: Yumi will make soba if you come to my apartment tonight
Shouto: I'll be there at 7.
Fuyumi and Natsuo were not ready to see the state of their youngest brother.
Shouto's eye bags were practically visible beneath his scar. His uniform was wrinkled; his nails were bitten down to bleeding.
“Hello,” he said simply.
“Shouto! How are you? I've been so worried!” Fuyumi gushed, immediately hugging him.
Shouto stoically bore the intense mothering Fuyumi felt was necessary.
“You doing okay?” Natsuo asked quietly. They weren't close, their family was too fucked for that, but looking at Shouto's state would be concerning to anyone.
Shouto just gave him a tired smile. Pulling his future-medical-professional card, Natsuo got him to sit down and drink some water.
Once he'd dutifully hydrated, Shouto said, “I assume you both want to know more about what I intend to share with the public.”
“Sho, we want you here because we care about you,” Fuyumi insisted.
“But it would be nice to know what my classmates will be pestering me about next,” Natsuo adds. Fuyumi frowns at him. He is unrepentant.
“I didn't intend to share anything. But now that it's happened, you should probably know that Touya is still alive.”
Shouto wasn't ready for the shouting that came next.
[From the phone of Todoroki Shouto]
Shouto: Our siblings want your phone number.
Nii-san: …give me theirs instead. tell them i'll talk when i'm ready
Shouto: Alright. Fuyumi cried a lot. You should know they're both really happy.
Dabi didn't message again for almost a week.
A week was an age in the eyes of the media. Shouto's life had almost calmed down, when Dabi intercepted him between classes.
Pulled into a shadowy copse on the corner of campus, Shouto whisper-yelled, “You can't be here!”
“Clearly I can,” Dabi said in a normal voice.
“If the heroes find you–!”
“If they were going to, they would have already. Relax, I'm only here to talk.”
“To talk about what?”
“Remember that revenge idea...?”
[From the phone of Todoroki Shouto]
Shouto: I liked practice. A lot.
Nii-san: yea? tell me more
Shouto: I would like to try the version with tongues next time, as long as I won't get stuck on your tongue piercing.
Shouto: Or unless food gets caught in there. Has that happened before?
Nii-san: jfc mood killer
Shouto: What mood?
Nii-san: i honestly don't know if you're fucking with me
Shouto: We had not discussed that, but I'm not opposed.
Nii-san: u mean fucking
Shouto: In a manner of speech. It makes sense, doesn't it? If kissing ruins Father, more than that would be even worse.
Shouto: And I enjoyed what you had to teach me.
Shouto: Shouldn't older brothers teach their otouto everything he needs to know about the world?
Nii-san: theres the mood it's back
From: [email protected]
Dear Sensei,
I will be absent for at least the next two days. Please do not worry about me. I am fine. I will be working ahead on my assignments as best I can.
Sincerely, your student,
Todoroki Shouto
Class 1A
[Video Upload Transcript, May 27]
[The video is shaky as its recording device, likely a cell phone, is propped against something. After a moment of stillness, the lens refocuses on two figures: hero student Shouto and villain Dabi.]
Shouto: “Hello. I have kidnapped myself– wait.”
[Dabi can be seen subtly hitting Shouto and whispering something in his ear.]
Shouto: Hello, Japan. I'm pro-hero-in-training Shouto, and this is the villain Dabi. We have–HE, has demands for my safe return.
[Dabi glares more overtly at Shouto.]
Shouto: Endeavor must explain, on live broadcast, his role in the death of his eldest son. [Whispering:] Didn't I kind of do that already? [Aloud:] He must admit to his abuse and resign as a Pro Hero.
Dabi: Or I'll set your son on fire.
[Both stare at the camera briefly before continuing to speak.]
Shouto: Do you think that take was good enough?
[Dabi can be seen retrieving the camera.]
Dabi: It's the last one I have fucks for, so it better be. Now, come here, baby boy.
[The video cuts out after momentarily looking at the ceiling]
@ herowatchinterns : wow, # Shouto and # Dabi really just rawdogged that footage huh
@ justanotherhandle01 : someday this will be an example of how not to do a ransom note # dabishouto # endeavor # todorokigate
@ Endeavor : Today, # Endeavor is seeking information on the kidnapping of his own son. Information leading to his rescue will be rewarded. Read more here . # ShoutoKidnapping
@ HeroWatch : Hostage or Hoax? Vote for what you think was really going on in the # ShoutoKidnapping video on our poll here !
[From the phone of Todoroki Shouto]
Natsu-nii: Did you realize you posted the unedited take of that video, or…?
Shouto: What?
Natsu-nii: I assume you meant to edit that video first. You posted an uncut version.
Shouto: Oh.
Natsu-nii: Those noises at the end better not be what the internet thinks they are
Shouto: I have Homework now bye
MOVE OVER, KARDASHIANS: There's a New Family to Keep Up With
The past weeks have seen a flurry of gossip, revelations, and drama surrounding one of the First Families among Heroes, the Todorokis. What began as an offhand comment from the youngest son has erupted into a firestorm as… [read more]
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“Dad says he won't retire.”
“What?!”
“Dad says he won't–”
“I heard you!”
“Then why did you–?”
“Shut up, Sho!”
Shouto looked startled and hurt for a moment, and Dabi briefly felt like shit, but he was too pissed to stop the steam engine of his emotions from ramming through everything else.
“Let me see that,” he added, stealing the remote to turn up the television.
Endeavor's tinny voice was saying on repeat, “I will not, at this time, negotiate with terrorists holding my son hostage. I will not step down and abandon the people of Japan, nor will I abandon my family. Shouto, if you see this, I will rescue you. Just hang on.”
Dabi muted it again and burst out, “Do you hear this shit? I won't abandon my family. Fuck you, Dad. ”
“His mouth only does that twitch when he's trying to remember a script,” Shouto says, “All of that was written by his PR team. He didn't have much time to rehearse, either.”
“Fuck. Of course he has full time employees to make him look good.”
“We need to up the stakes.”
Dabi examined Shouto's face. “What's your idea…?”
[From the phone of Todoroki Shouto]
Shouto: Your day tomorrow will probably be a long one.
Natsu-nii: What have you done.
Shouto: You'll see soon.
Natsu-nii: Pick up the damn phone Sho!
Endeavor wasn't ready for the next video released by his son–or rather, sons.
[Video Upload Transcript, June 1]
[Todoroki Shouto and villain codename Dabi sit beside each other on a couch. Note that in this video, cuts are shown that indicate it has been edited.]
Shouto: This video goes out to my father, and also the world. Last time, having a script didn't go so well. This time, we will be speaking from the heart.
[Shouto looks to Dabi. Dabi lets out a sigh, looks down, and then looks back at the camera before continuing.]
Dabi: I had no choice but to turn to villainy after my father left me for dead. With my, uh, medical conditions, living on the street was dangerous, and I couldn't go to anyone for help because of who my father is. I had to fend for myself, and I did that with force when I had to. I joined up with people who were strong enough to help me survive and achieve my goals.
[Dabi can be seen reaching to Shouto, apparently to hold his hand on the couch. He looks to Shouto, who nods once before looking forward again.]
Shouto: Dabi found me after reporters began following me around. We learned about each other, and how much we had in common. I love him.
[Dabi appears startled as he turns sharply towards Shouto.]
Dabi: What are you saying, brat?
Shouto: Of course I love you.
[Shouto kisses Dabi's cheek before continuing.]
Shouto: Dabi has made terrible mistakes, and he is willing to come forward and face justice under clear conditions which I personally support. He wants his father brought down with him. His father will face justice for his own crimes, as well the systems that have covered those crimes up. In addition, I request immunity or leniency in his sentencing due to his extreme duress and trauma. While he is responsible for his actions, they were only necessary due to the crimes of another. Crimes which I can also personally attest to, and which we will be releasing further videos about in coming days.
[Shouto and Dabi look at each other for one more long moment. Dabi turns to the camera.]
Dabi: The name I was born with is Todoroki Touya. My father is Endeavor. Shouto plans to return, and I will, too, once dear old dad turns himself in.
Shouto: Please, download, save, and share this video. Those in power will try to suppress it, but our futures depend on spreading the truth.
[ Video ends.]
[From the phone of Todoroki Shouto]
Natsu-nii: Your reveal wasn’t nearly as impressive since half the internet guessed it was Touya days ago
Natsu-nii: Also your gross relationship is really obvious and if you don’t want Touya double-arrested you need to get better at hiding it
Shouto: I’ll take that under advisement.
No one involved was ready for the next phone call.
Shouto had memorized a few numbers from his contacts, and Dabi had a burner phone that should be able to scramble signals to hide their location for a short call. Still, they tried to smuggle themselves a ways away from their hideout before making this particular phone call, just in case.
Todoroki Rei picked up on the fourth ring.
“Hello?” came her clear, soft voice, made only a little tinny through the speakers.
Dabi stared at the phone with that intense expression Shouto could never follow–displaying every emotion at once.
“Hello? Is anyone there?”
Shouto cleared his throat. “Hello, mother.”
“Shouto! They told me you'd been kidnapped! Are you okay?!”
“Yes, mother, I'm fine. Did they tell you anything else? About my kidnapper, maybe?”
“No, you know they try not to upset me. What happened?”
“Mother, I have some news you may find disturbing.”
“What is it, Shouto?”
Dabi seemed to finally find his voice, rasping out, “Hi, ma.”
She was silent on the other end of the phone for a long moment , then: “Shouto…? Am I hearing things?”
“No, mother. It's real.”
“I survived, Ma,” Dabi said simply, his voice surprisingly thick.
“My babies,” Rei started babbling again and again, “Oh, my babies. You're okay. I can't believe you're okay. I'm so happy. You survived us. I'm so sorry, Touya.”
That's when she started crying.
“Mother, wait a moment. We need to say something.”
“What?”
“You need to try to get on a phone or computer and look up my name. The news will explain everything. We can't talk much longer.”
“Please, I love you. I don't want to forget this is real.”
“Look it up, Ma. You need to know what's happening before anyone finds you.”
“I will,” she said, her voice shoring up its strength. “I promise.”
BREAKING: WIFE OF ENDEAVOR EXPANDS ON ABUSE ALLEGATIONS
BREAKING: HERO WHISTLEBLOWERS COME FORWARD
BREAKING: ENDEAVOR TO SPEAK PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME REGARDING ABUSE CONTROVERSY
“...we did it. He's stepping down.”
“ Administrative leave isn't exactly the same thing, Sho.”
“Yes, but it's no longer going to be an internal HPSC investigation. Everyone is watching. Some kind of justice will occur.”
“I'll believe it when he's in handcuffs.”
“That's fair. But still… victory kiss?”
Dabi indulged him.