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Enji Todoroki was a decent hero but a terrible father. It was a known fact in the Todoroki household.
Since he was a small child, Shouto never had a close relationship with his siblings. Whether it was because of Endeavor purposely secluding him or them avoiding him due to fear, he never had a chance to know them.
Now, as Shouto lay in the hospital after fighting Touya, he wonders if they also avoided him because of resentment.
Did they blame him for how their father treated them?
The more he sat alone, bandaged and bruised, the more he wondered if they ever liked him or if they just tolerated him because he was also a victim of their father’s abuse.
If I had never been born, could dad have changed? Would Touya be with them, happy and a hero?
Tears rolled down Shouto’s face fast, loud wails echoed off the white hospital walls. The pain from the fight along with the pain his own thoughts brought, Shouto was tired. He’s always been known to be calm and clueless, never showing much emotion, but everything has become so much and he just can’t take it anymore.
He hasn’t cried like this since he was a child in his mother’s arms, wondering why his father treated them so terribly.
“Oi!”
“Todoroki-kun!”
Shouto’s cries calm down once he hears two familiar voices, looking over, he sees Midoriya and Bakugou entering his room. Both bandaged and bruised themselves.
“The hell’s up with you.” Bakugou sneers.
“Kacchan, don’t be insensitive.” Midoriya hissed. “He’s very emotional right now, and as his friends, we need to be there for him.”
“I’m not his damn friend!” Bakugou rages.
Shouto can’t help but smile a little at his friend's little quarrel, he hasn’t known the two for long but they’ve been through so much together.
As he continues to look at them, the thoughts come back.
Do they tolerate him too? I mean, they wouldn’t be here if they didn’t like him a little bit. But his family also visited earlier, so they could be here out of obligation, he is their classmate.
“Ah! Todoroki-kun, you’re crying a lot.” Midoriya says, breaking him out of his thoughts. “Do you want to talk about what’s causing you so much trouble?”
And Todoroki let’s everything out.
“I didn’t choose to be born,” he starts out, “I didn’t ask to be what my father was looking for, I didn’t ask for my quirk, and I didn’t ask for much in my life.” He cries.
“My father doesn’t love me, he loves my quirk. My quirk has caused so many problems for my family and they treat me like I chose it on purpose.” He finishes.
“Who treats you that way?” Midoriya asks.
“My family!”
“Eh?! What about that pushy sister of yours?” Bakugou questions.
“She’s just trying to get the family together so we can seem somewhat normal, I’m just the easiest for her to work with.” Shouto sobs.
“I’m sure you’re just overthinking.” Midoriya tries to reassure.
“No, I’m not! Natsuo avoids me, Touya has gone mad because of me, mom burned me because I look like dad and I went and apologized to her!” Shouto begins to laugh hysterically.
Bakugou and Midoriya look at each other in concern.
“I just want them to realize that I didn’t have the choice in being born just like them, I’m sorry my birth ruined the family beyond repair but it wasn’t on purpose.” Shouto spouted off.
“I just want them to admit that, admit that they wished I never came into the picture. I want them to admit that if they could rebuild our family, they wouldn’t choose me!” He yells before becoming overwhelmed with his crying.
Midoriya hugs him while Bakugou just moves close to the bed. Other than Shouto’s cries and the beeps from the machines, the room is quiet. They don’t know what to say to the boy to make him feel better.
“Well,” Midoriya starts, “I wouldn’t change you for anything.”
Shouto sucks in a sob as he looks up at him.
“You’re one of my best friends Shouto and you’ve opened up so much since the festival. If they didn’t choose you because of some messed up way of thinking, I would.” Midoriya finishes with a smile.
Sniffling, Shouto looks up toward Bakugou.
“Tch…I see you as one of my biggest rivals, you’re strong and I acknowledge that. I’d choose you cause there aren’t many who I give that title to.” Bakugou states. “If I’m gonna be the strongest, I have to go up against some of the strongest.”
Shouto smiles, they choose him, they want him around without having some weird vendetta against him.
The three of them continue to chat as Shouto slowly calms down and enjoys their little moment.
_____
Outside, Aizawa leans up against the wall next to the door.
Smile on his face as he listens to his problem children, proud at how far they’ve come.