Chapter Text
Touya had always kept to himself growing up. Ever since Shoto’s birth, Touya had slowly backed away from his mother, Fuyumi, and eventually Natsuo. He never made many friends at school either. He felt rejected from everyone in his family, so he kept to himself to avoid that feeling further.
At the beginning of his high school years, Touya attracted a few people by being the number two hero’s eldest son, but once they got to know him, they immediately backed off. Touya often ignored the other kids and didn’t go out of his way to be friendly. This was the case with all of his classmates, except Ramona.
Ramona was a foreign girl, specifically from America. Her parents moved to Japan before she hit double digits, but as soon as she hit the shore she was often ridiculed for her looks. Her parents were White American and African American so her curly hair and mixed features stood out against the homogeneous country of Japan. Therefore, Ramona also kept to herself and especially went out of her way to avoid her classmates. So, in some odd way, that brought her and Touya close together.
At first, it was just sitting together at lunch, trying to enjoy the new suffocating silence that occurred between them. Then it was small talk that was never about their families, but more about their own interests and aspirations. Then it progressed, slowly but progression nonetheless.
Touya eventually opened up to her. About his family, about being a hero, and about his feelings towards her. Ramona was Toaya’s safe space and eventual lover. After a few months into the school year, Touya and Ramona started “dating” each other.
It wasn’t anything too serious, just two damaged teens trying to find light in the world. Trying to find someone to keep them company.
That didn’t last long though.
It was just a usual day when Ramona heard the news.
She had gotten up, got dressed, makeup, hair, all the normal teenage girl stuff.
As she made her way downstairs, her mother said something passive aggressive about her hair before Ramona stormed away and turned on the television.
“Today, on January 12th, a fire was burned near Number 2 hero Endeavor’s house. The fire contained his oldest son Touya Todoroki who is now pronounced dead. Witness say-“
Her entire world collapsed at that moment and for the next few weeks all she could do was cry and cry and cry. She even started throwing up because of how much she was crying and mourning over her lover’s death. Then, she started eating more, maybe for some type of comfort that only made her mother shame her more. And maybe all these symptoms weren’t just due to the loss of her boyfriend, perhaps it was something else entirely.
Then it happened, the pregnancy test. And just her luck, she passed with flying colors. She was pregnant.
The following events were nothing more than a nightmare.
Her mother kicked her out.
Her father wouldn’t let her come to the states to live with him.
She didn’t finish high school, and nine months later Ramona was a single mother living in a crappy apartment with three babies.
Ramona had thought about telling the Todoroki family about her situation, but after the horror stories Touya told about them, she decided that it’d be best if her kids steered clear from that household.
As the years went on, Ramona barely managed to support her triplets Takeru, Yuki, and Jewel. She worked as an English teacher during the day and a hostess at a ramen joint at night. She did her best to take care of the three kids Touya gave her and even sends them to a well off elementary school. Before she knew it, eight years passed. Everything was going well, and eventually things got great. A few weeks ago, she got a call for a job interview as an interpreter for Best Jeanist’s hero agency. It was all going perfect, until…
“You’re canceling!?” Ramona exclaimed.
“Look” the babysitter said on the phone, “I just can’t make it today. My mother fell down the stairs and now I’m in my car for god knows how long stuck in traffic and so I’m sorry. But it's not gonna happen.” With that, the sitter hung up.
“Fuck” Ramona whispered under her breath.
“What does that word mean, Mama?” Jewel said with her big doey blue eyes.
“Nothing sweetie.” She says with a lightning response before picking up her daughter. “I just don’t know what I’m going to do with you all.”
“You could sell us!” Takeru says with too much enthusiasm for his slightly older sister.
“Knock it off Takeru! Mom’s dealing with enough.” Yuki says to Takeru after giving him a little slap to the back of the head.
“Hey! Don’t hit your brother!” Ramona scolds. Yuki gives a fake apology before her mother continued venting to them.
“Let me think. I can’t bring you with me, I can’t leave you with the neighbors. What else?”
“If she leaves on the street, we can get adopted by a hero family, and then I can train to become a Pro!” Takeru exclaimed.
“I said knock it off! She’s upset enough as it is!” Yuki yelled. “Mom, just leave us here, we'll be fine.”
“Please, your brother would cause too much trouble for that to ever happen. Besides, you’re all only eight, I can’t leave you here. But I know what I have to do.”
The car ride was filled with curiosity by her three children as they were trying to figure where their mother decided to drive them to. As they passed many landmarks, the children started to notice them entering richer and richer areas, as they finally entered the outside of a large Japanese style house.
“Mama, where are we?” Jewel said with hesitation.
“Damn Mom, your new boyfriend is loaded!” Takeru said with awe.
“No swear heart, I do not have a new boyfriend, and you will not mention anything about the people I date while you are here. And no cursing.” She says sternly.
“One thing for sure, whoever this house belongs too they sure are loaded.” Yuki said while rolling down her window.
Ramona gazed at her brown eyes in her rearview mirrors “Look kids, I know life hasn’t been great for us, but I really need this job. We really need this job. And if this job interview goes well, and if this babysitting goes well, our lives could change.”
“Mom, don’t worry about us. We’ll be on our best behavior for this sitter.” Yuki said with determination.
As the family of four exited their vehicle, they all approached the large house with a sense of determination and uncertainty.
Ramona carefully rang the doorbell and slowly awaited her already flimsy plan.
“Can I help you?” Endeavor said in his usual stern tone but with a mix of confusion. He opened the door wider to see the mixed race woman with her three rugrats.
“Shit. I was hoping for Natsuo or Fuyumi to open the door.” Ramona said.
“Do you know them?” Endeavor pondered while trying not to stare at the peculiar picture in front of him.
“Look, Mr. Todoroki. I know this is a lot to drop on you, but I’m Touya’s ex-girlfriend. We dated for a while and before he died he seemed to have gotten me pregnant with these three lovely kids. I didn’t tell you guys about it because we both know you wouldn’t have handled that well.”
Endeavor stood there stunned.
“Anyway, I have a big job interview so please please please, can you or someone here watch them?” She pleaded.
“Wha.” Endeavor muttered out.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
Ramona turned around and ushered her kids in front of her, planning on introducing them in order of age.
“Yuki is the eldest.” Yuki, the eldest triplet stood taller than the rest of her siblings and stood with calmness that was usually found in someone of an older age. She had a very light brown complexion with straight black hair that was too long for someone even of her height. Her studious look was matched by a pink sweater and gray skirt that made her look like a little nerd.
“This is my only boy, Takeru. He’s the evil triplet.” Takeru was a thin boy who took after his mother in looks, but shared his father’s blue eyes, facial structure, hair style, and overall attitude. He looked like his mother with his darker skin, brown hair, and mixed features.
“And this is the baby of the family, Jewel.” Jewel was the smallest and youngest of the three and clung to her mother’s leg while carrying a stuffed animal. Despite her American name, she resembled nothing of her mother and instead looked fully like a Todoroki child with white fluffy hair and entirely Japanese features. The only thing she had in looks from her mom was her soft dark brown eyes.
Before her departure, Ramona gave them all a kiss on the forehead before giving them a small speech.
“Be on your best behavior, take care of eachother, and please be nice.” She turned to Endeavor, who was still in shock. “And you. If you hurt my kids, I’ll kill you. Now on another note, don’t let them use their quirks too much, and no water on their hair. Okay bye.”
And just like that, she was off.
Takeru, with his heart filled with excitement, could only say one word.
“Holy Shit we’re loaded!”