Chapter 23: Hisashi Midoriya: Dark Origin Story
Itsuka cursed under her breath before slamming a normal sized fist against a building in frustration. Around her, a few of the Expo attendees shot her a quick glance but the orange-haired girl paid them no mind. Instead, she did her best to get her thoughts focused on the problem before her.
This was now the second time that Izuku had run off. The first time, when he had left the arena, she had followed him out of a sense of duty. Well, maybe duty wasn't the right word for this as she wasn't just doing this as Class Rep but also as his friend. Maybe even her best friend at this point.
She could still recall their first awkward meeting, the way he just seemed to freeze when she talked to her. At first, she just thought it was a little weird. Then, she realized that the timid green-haired boy who had entered her family's dojo had been treated like he was quirkless. That he had been laughed at his entire life, destroying his self-confidence and demeaning his self-worth. Something that was only further confirmed by how much Izuku had been willing to go in order to become more like All Might. Honestly, it scared her to know how little he valued himself and forced the question out of her that day. She was just glad that, afterwards, Izuku took their concerns to heart.
Still, while Izuku was making progress, there was a part of Itsuka that couldn't just do nothing. Guess that's what the others called her 'Big Sister Mode'. It hadn't been some big master plan, just hanging out with Izuku so he could get used to other people and not be so skittish. Maybe help him discover other aspects of himself. Help him grow as a person. Well, it had worked with Itsuka finding the experience very enjoyable. More so than she ever thought she would. Even when he was nervous about doing something, there was an almost infectious desire to give it his all. More than that, he took a genuine fascination in her interests. Like when she showed him her room for the first time, watching the surprise on his face when he saw the posters of motorcycles on the walls and her Harley Davis comforter. And she, in turn, took a genuine interest with his hobbies which was mainly his hero notebooks. It was the reason she had wanted him to come over to her room and pose for him, so he could practice and improve his art.
Because she knew him now so well, she knew all of his traits. When he set his mind to something, he was the hardest worker she knew. So much so that he could cover an amazing amount of ground in a short amount of time. He had a heroic soul, one that compelled him to reach out a hand to help others. It was this trait that was both one of his best and worst at times. That desire to save others was what led him to reach out a hand to Pony, helping her when no one else would give her the time of day. It was what caused him to fight the zero-pointer, risking the exam in order to save someone he didn't know. Perhaps it was also that trait that brought him to Toga, wanting to help her despite her less-than-ideal path. While all those were moments where he shined, there were also moments when she knew where he would go running off without a word when he heard others in need. He would also laugh it off when she caught up to him, saying his feet just moved on their own. Though that just always just earned him a scolding, like when he rushed out risking his life to save Tetsutetsu without thinking.
So, when Izuku raced out of the arena, she knew it had to be that instinct to help others at work. Based on what Izuku had first told her about the American students, she had a feeling that something was going on with them. That feeling only grew stronger once she actually met them herself. And knowing Izuku, he was going to get himself involved in some manner.
Again, both his best and worst trait. Thankfully, Izuku had her to both back in up and pull him back when he took on more trouble than he could handle on his own. Oh, and wanted to make sure he didn't do anything that would get him into trouble. The last thing she wanted was for Aizawa to get some new ammo that he would use to insult her friend. Or worse, try to convince Vlad King to expel him. She had heard from some of her upperclassmen that Aizawa was notorious for expelling anyone who didn't meet his standards of being a hero. Even expelling an entire class last year for reasons known only to him. And instead of targeting Mineta, who was nothing more than a breath away from being placed on a list, Monoma, whose need to be the star caused him to make poor decisions, and Bakugo, whose default was angry and abusive, the man seemed laser-focused on Izuku.
She would be damned if let someone like that take Izuku away from her. Wait! No! What she meant was preventing her from seeing him every day! In class!
Quickly ignoring her face heating up, Itsuka's thoughts shifted back to the events that led her to this current situation. When Izuku ran out of the arena, she had reacted too slowly and had walked in on a…situation. It didn't take her too long to figure out what was going on. Izuku's dad was here, apparently not telling his son and hanging around strangers. And shortly after what that very rude woman said, Izuku ran off for the second time. However, this time, there had been no real thought into his actions. Just the need to get away from that spot.
Not that she could blame him.
Now, however, she was getting worried. Perhaps it was due to the fact that Izuku was not in his right mind, running randomly through the crowds of people. Or maybe it was because she had not kept a good enough focus on him. But, the fact remained that now her very emotional best friend was missing.
Sighing, Itsuka went over her options. The first was to text him, expressing how worried she was and asking where he was. But, in the state he was in, would he reply? Her next option would be to get help from her friends. Since quirks were allowed, Pony would be able to fly around on her horns and scout the area looking for him. Or Toga could use her pure obsession to find the teen. Heck, she could even ask Melissa to see if they could use security cameras to look for him. However, what prevented her from doing this wasn't pride. While she was sure that Melissa would…she didn't have the girl's contact making her feel really stupid at this moment. As for Toga, while she knew the girl would help Itsuka also knew that the blond vampire would also want to know why Izuku ran. Itsuka would only shudder as she imagined what Toga would do to that man once she found out. So, if they wanted to avoid a murder on the island and losing a friend, it would be best to keep Toga from finding out. And since Toga was with Pony right now, calling the American U.A. student was probably not the best move either.
So, with another sigh, Itsuka pulled out her phone to send Izuku a text before continuing her search.
Just after she sent out her message, Itsuka looked up before frowning as an angry red flashed in her vision. Before her was one of the weird scientific attractions of the island: a large pond where the water would randomly rise up to create shapes and messages. Along the edge of the water were a number of metal walkways that led to circular platforms. These platforms were covered in grass and just large enough for a slightly larger person to walk around the lone bench placed in the middle. And it was on one of these platforms that Hisashi could be found. He sat there on a bench, slouched so that it looked like at any moment he would slide off it with his head lowered.
Anger fueled Itsuka as she marched over to the man who just sat there, not caring that his son was having an emotional breakdown! That he was missing.
Finally, she stood next to the bench with her arms crossed over her chest. At first, he didn't seem to notice her as Midoriya's focus was on the water. But after a few moments, where she considered speaking up to get his attention, the man looked over at her.
"Oh, it's you," he said, voice dripping with depression. "You're that girl who was hanging around my son."
"And you're Izuku's deadbeat dad," Itsuka shot back with plenty of heat in her voice. She would have said something else only to be stunned into momentary silence when the man began to laugh. One that was both dry and humorless.
"Won't hear no arguments from me," he chuckled. Then, he looked over at Itsuka and gave her an appraising look, like he was sizing her up or something. And when he turned away, there was a slight smile on his face that felt more genuine. "I will say, my son knows how to pick them. You got some fire in you. That's…that's good. I'll willing to bet you've been a good influence on him."
For a moment, Itsuka just stood there feeling both shocked and angry at the statement. Shocked that he would admit he was a deadbeat dad as well as the compliment. As for the anger, well, in her opinion this man had lost the right to talk about who he thinks would be a good influence for his son. It was far too late to start caring for Izuku. Especially when he was here with other people.
Speaking of…
"So," began Itsuka as she sat down next to the man. "Where's your rude girlfriend? Did you have an argument after she found out you had a kid or something?" This got a reaction out of Hisashi, though not the one she had been expecting. The man looked like every single slasher movie villain in existence had somehow gotten key jobs in the government.
"Me and Ms. Pan?" he gasped before letting out a few dry heaves. "Are you serious? Oh God. Oh my God. To be stuck in a relationship with her? I wouldn't wish that fate on even my own worst enemy. Not even the quirk boogieman! There are some things you just don't joke about."
"Ah, ok then," replied Itsuka slowly as Hisashi began to take deep breaths with his hands behind his head. Slowly the color was returning to his face though he was sweating a little. It made her wonder what that woman was really like to get such a reaction out of him. "So, if you two aren't-" She was then cut off as Hisashi pulled one of his hands away from his head, holding it in front of Itsuka in a stop gesture.
"She's my assigned partner for work," said Hisashi as he slowly straightened up. "We work for Abysswell Insurance. It's one of the biggest insurance companies in the world, ranging from your basic health to insuring prized art."
"Oh," said Itsuka, somewhat surprised to hear that. Then, she heard her phone signal that she had gotten a text. After quickly glancing at it, she let out a sigh of relief seeing that Izuku was fine. "You must really like helping people." As she slid her phone back into her pocket, she briefly wondered if maybe she had judged this man harshly. The way he had acted about the rude woman at least showed that maybe they had misunderstood the situation. So perhaps he wasn't a total piece of crap. Maybe there could be something that Izuku and his father could bond over.
A quick snort told Itsuka she was dead wrong.
"Sorry there kid, but the only people I help are the shareholders," he said with clear bitterness in his tone. "I'm an insurance investigator. Whenever a claim is filed, it's my job to go there and find some reason to deny it. I go to hospitals where people are on life support, doing their best to recover from a disease or from a villain attack, and find any reason to deny them coverage. I go to places where natural disasters have struck, people in need of food, water, and shelter, and write up a report on why they shouldn't get a penny. I look into why we shouldn't give a client the money they insured a priceless work of art the money they are owed when it is stolen. As long as someone else pays for all of that, my bosses are happy."
"Th-That's horrible," gapped Itsuka as she stared at the man. Suddenly, Itsuka felt like Izuku got all his kindness and compassion from his mother. The only thing this man offered were the freckles and messy hair.
"Yeah, it is," sighed the man before looking up at the sky. "Honestly, I've heard worse. Even gotten some not-so-kind letters from people calling me a villain. Some others have told me there's a special place in hell just for me." Hishasi then shook his head as he looked back at the water, seeing something there that Itsuka could not see. Perhaps all the people he hurt? "They think I actually take pleasure in seeing their misery. Or that I take some sort of sick pleasure in stringing them along, that I enjoy bringing hope into their eyes at their darkest moment before ruthlessly snuffing it out. But I don't. I never wanted any of this."
"They why do it?" demanded Kendo, feeling frustrated.
"Because I need to punish myself," stated Hisashi loudly, his voice carrying that he believed every word he said. He then balled up his fists so tightly that he could draw blood before slamming them onto his knees. "I need to be constantly miserable in order to atone. Because I'm the reason my son is quirkless. I ruined his life! He's paying for my sins. Same as everyone else I come across."
That blew the wind out from Itsuka's sails. As she looked at the man, doing her best not to compare how both he and his son looked similar when they were trying to hold back their tears, she did her best to try and find logic in this. It just seemed so…insane to think this. There was just no way this man could have caused Izuku to be quirkless. Quirks were genetic. Sure, no one knew exactly how quirks came to be and why some people were born with strange mutations. Nor did anyone know why some people were still born quirkless. But most of what they did know made sense. Children normally got either a stronger version of one of their parent's quirks or got a mix.
Besides, Izuku had a quirk. Sure it came in late and he was treated like he was quirkless for most of his life, but he got one. And, from her point of view, Divine Dividing was a strange mutation of Inko's. Her quirk allowed her to pull small objects towards her. Well, Izuku seemed to be able to pull strength out of other people. Though, she didn't know why he got wings and could fly. For that, she just chucked it in the 'quirks can be weird' category.
In the end, while Kendo wanted to say 'that makes no sense', she decided on something else. Something that might help her get to the root of this problem and help her make sense of it.
"Why do you think that?" asked Kendo locking eyes on the man sitting next to her.
"Because I've been nothing but a piece of utter shit my entire life," said the man as he slouched down.
"Those people you were with didn't seem to think so," countered Itsuka.
"That's because they met me later on in life," replied Hisashi. "They didn't know what I was like back then."
Flashback
"Get off my case you fucking fossil!" screamed Hisashi while extending a leg that connected into the gut of the elderly man in front of him. The man, bald with narrow squinting eyes, landed on the ground with a loud cry. No doubt complaining about his back as he normally walked around with a hunch.
As his grandmother screamed in worry, rushing to her husband's side, Hisashi just scowled in disgust at what he saw before taking a mouthful of the bottled beer in his hand. The man was still in his one-piece blue janitor's uniform, dirty from all the extra work he had done that day. It was a pathetic job in every meaningful way that the teen could think. Then again, a part of him couldn't help but be amused at the irony on full display. A piece of trash of society picking up trash and cleaning toilets for a living.
However, that amusement could only hold back the anger that Hisashi was feeling for so long.
"Who are you to give me order?" spat Hisashi, swinging the bottle around and having it crashing into the wall. The moment it connected, the bottle smashed causing glass shards and cheap beer to rain down on the elderly couple. Both let out cries of terror, covering themselves to protect their wrinkled old skin before slowly looking up.
Hisashi, however, looked between them and the broken bottleneck now in his hand feeling extra angry. So much so that he tossed it across the room.
"I-I was j-just worried about you," stammered Hisahsi's grandfather, drawing the boy's attention. "It was late and-"
"I'll come back to this dump whenever I feel like! Got that you quirkless fossil!" shouted Hisashi as fire shot out of his mouth. The sight of this caused the two elderly people to cry out in fear, knowing just how helpless they would be if he ever used it on them. Seeing that fear made teen sneer at them again. "Both of you are just useless old fossils. I'm part of the fucking future! I'm the strong that gets to step on the weak, pathetic pieces of shit like you! So I'll do what I want when I want to do it!"
Laughing, Hisashi walked to his room though not before grabbing another bottle of bear that he and his 'friends' had stolen from the local convenience store down the road. While they hung out with him, there was no illusion that they really liked each other. Most of them had useless quirks. Like this one guy who just had the ability to detach parts of his body, usually an arm that he used to swing at others. And he was the second most powerful person in their group with Hisashi being at the top of the food chain. After all, he could set things on fire just by breathing on them. The reason he allowed all those other people to hang off him was because they were extra muscle. And the idea that they all had powerful quirks like Hisashi made it so much easier to intimidate those quirkless losers into handing over whatever they wanted.
As he sat down on his bed, not even bothering to remove his Aldera High uniform whose blazer was open, the teen began to check his phone while taking another mouthful of the alcoholic beverage. There were some messages from some of the girls in the area. Some wanting to know when he would be coming over to have some fun while others left some not-so-kind messages that made him laugh.
Laying down on the bed, Hisashi began to wonder which girl he should shack up with tonight. After yelling at the old fossils, he needed to release some stress. Yet as he thought about it, a wave of drowsiness began to overtake him. His eyes were becoming harder to keep open.
"Nap…time," was all Hisashi said as he closed his eyes, the bottle spilling onto the bed sheets. Not that he really cared. The only thing his grandmother was good for was cleaning and she would do just that. He would have fresh new sheets on his bed when he got back tomorrow from his fun. Just like he did today.
Just like he would every day.
And with that, Hishasi slipped into slumber.
"Son?" came a voice that stirred Hisashi back to the waking world. "Son? Are you with us? Is he still breathing?"
Slowly, Hisashi opened his eyes seeing the relieved faces of the paramedics standing above him while the rest of the world seemed to suddenly crash all around him. He was no longer in his bedroom, but instead staring up at a cloudy night sky that was tinted orange and red. The sound of sirens blaring, heroes shouting to back away from the building, and the roar of a fire as a building fell apart. But, more importantly was what he felt on his person: arms. Despite the clothing he was wearing, he could feel just how slender and wrinkled they both were as they wrapped around his chest from both sides.
End Flashback
"I don't really remember much about what happened after that," finished Hisashi, the man's hands grasping at the fabric of his pants like he was trying to strangle them. His voice had also changed. While before, he had just sounded miserable and bitter, like he had something foul in his mouth that only grew worse the more he talked. Now, however, he was openly weeping as he stared down at the ground. "The police and heroes said it was accidently quirk usage. That I activated my quirk in my sleep since the fire started in my room. My body…it's a bit more fire resistant so…But that doesn't change the fact that I killed them. I killed my grandparents!"
Kendo nearly jumped in her seat as Hisashi began to scream out hysterically, drawing the eyes of other expo attendees. The girl was about to say something but stopped when the man let out one the loudest sobs she had ever heard while his hands went to his face. Large tears, similar to what Izuku might release, fell to the ground as he continued to cry.
"Why? Why did they have to die?" he cried. "They should have been the first people rescued, not me. They were good people. They took care of me after my parents died. And how did I repay them for giving me a home? For my grandpa to go back to work just so I could go to school and have everything I needed? I treated them like shit! I should have been the one to die in that fire, not them!" Kendo then watched as it looked like the man was about to start punching himself, but somehow he managed to stop.
For several long moments, Itsuka just sat there taking in everything she had just heard and feeling more than a little conflicted. The way Hisashi had described what happened that night made it clear he was a monster. Honestly, it was the kind of behavior that reminded her more of Bakugo and how she imagined how his father would have acted. But at the same time, she realized that he had been a kid. A selfish bully, high on the power he had over others weaker than himself. But a kid nonetheless. And, just by looking at what he saw before her, Hisashi realized that as well as feeling genuine regret over how he treated them. Only made worse by the fact that it was too late to apologize to them.
"A-After that," continued Hisashi after taking a few deep, shaky breaths. "There were whispers about me from those who knew me best. That I had finally gone off the deep end and killed my grandparents. But, I ignored them. Instead, I vowed on my grandparent's graves that I would do my best to turn this sad life of mine around. I swore I would never drink again. Gave up smoking and sleeping around. Left behind all my old 'friends'. I even hit the books so I could get into a decent university.
"It was there that I met Inko," he said, a hint of a fond smile appearing on his face. "Meeting her, it was like someone pulled me out of the darkness. Showing me kindness and compassion that I had sorely missed. And while we dated, I began to notice something. Other people around me began to suffer. Like how one of my high school teachers who had helped me improve my grades, even writing a letter to help me get a scholarship, was arrested. Or how I friend I met in college suddenly got into a car accident. Little things that I now realize were the warning signs."
Hearing that, Itsuka raised an eyebrow while a pit of dread formed in her stomach. Something told her that she wouldn't like what was coming next.
"Shortly after college, me and Inko were wed," said Hisashi, taking another deep breath. As if it would help steady himself. "It was one of the happiest moments of my life. Then the moment passed. Has…Has Izuku never brought up his grandparents? On his mother's side?" That pit grew as Itsuka shook her head. "They died a week after I married Inko. N-No one knew how, just they their bodies were mangled. Inko…she had always been close to them. Seeing them, good people, in that state nearly destroyed her. I stayed with her and we managed to work through it. But we didn't know more tragedy was coming for us."
Hisashi then paused, wrapping his arms around his chest.
"Then tragedy scarred another important moment in my life," breathed Hisashi. "My son's birth. I was so happy. So proud. I…I wanted to do all the things me and my father. I was so scared that I would fuck up just like how I did with my grandparents. But, I had Inko. I knew that together we would be fine. Then, it happened. Inko…there was an issue. It was touch and go. There was panic and all I could do was to stand there helpless." The man shuttered before shaking his head, doing his best to dispel painful memories. "When it was over, well, you can see that Inko and Izuku are alive. Only Inko lost her ability to ever have another child. While she managed to stay strong, I began to wonder why so many bad things were happening around me."
Hisashi paused, smiling a little as a sense of calm returned to him. "That was until I held my son for the first time," he said. "He was so small, so weak. But he seemed to be reaching out as if to grab the world with his tiny hands. And, in that moment, I made a vow I would be the best-damned father I could be for him. I would be a man he would always be proud of. So, I quit my job to become a sidekick."
"Wait, WHAT?!?" yelled Itsuka, speaking in what felt like forever. But she couldn't help it. It was just so surprising. "You were a hero?"
"No," replied Hisashi, his eyes going half-lidded as a brief smile appeared on his face. "I never went to school to become a hero. Nor was my quirk powerful enough to get me into one. But there are programs out there for people who, for one reason or another, were never able to get the proper education. But not a lot of people sign up for them since you're stuck as a sidekick with no hope of advancing. Not that I minded. I just thought 'wouldn't Izuku be proud that his father is working alongside a hero'. I mean, how many kids get to say that."
"Well," began Itsuka as she really thought about it. While there wasn't anyone who was related to a hero in her class, she was aware that 1-A had one. Maybe two. The most obvious was Todoroki. The other could be Ida as he had a similar quirk to another very popular hero who had recently been injured by the Hero Killer: Stain.
Though, did Toga count? She knew the Twilight Saint well enough to call her Aunt but they weren't technically related.
"So," said Kendo after a moment of silence. "How did that work?"
"It's pretty straightforward," explained Hisashi. "I just needed to find a hero who was willing to take me on and train me over a period of five years, giving monthly reports to the Heroes Safety Commission. Unfortunately, getting a hero to sign off and give me a chance proved to be harder than I thought. You know, background checks. Once they saw what I was like in my youth, they weren't too keen on giving me a chance to fall back on old habits. I had almost given up hope when I decided 'screw it' and went to the biggest hero office I could instead of all the little ones. The Endeavor Agency. And he took me on."
Itsuka felt her jaw drop to the floor. Endeavor, of all people, took in Hisashi Midoriya to be a sidekick? The number two hero in all of Japan was willing to give this man a chance when everyone else said no. That just didn't make any sense since, well, Endeavor wasn't known for his friendly demeanor. If he had said someone like All Might then, sure, Itsuka would have believed that no problem. But Endeavor?
"How?" was all Itsuka could say as she did her best to make sense of the situation.
Hisashi shrugged. "Said I had guts to walk into his office and ask to sign up to be a member of the Flaming Sidekickers," he said. "My past didn't seem to matter to him. Just took me on, told me not to make him regret this, and to be prepared to go through hell the next day.
"And, well, it was hell," continued Hisashi as a faraway look appeared on his face. "But it was a good type of hell if that makes sense. Every day he made sure I pushed my body, quizzing me on all sorts of rescue procedures, team moves, and so on. Believe me, it was grueling work that nearly had me passed out on the floor some days. But, I pushed through it. I even surprised Endeavor a few times when he thought that he had pushed me over the edge, thinking that that was the day that I would quit. And I guess the other Flaming Sidekickers were impressed that I was pushing myself so hard. Became pretty good friends with them.
"After a couple of months, Endeavor called me into his office."
Flashback
Hisashi gulped as he walked into the office of the Number Two Hero. Unlike the offices of some of the other heroes he had visited, which had been small and almost barren, this one was large enough that his apartment could fit in. It took up half the top floor, with marble flooring. While the room was large, it was mostly empty space save for a couple of couches in the middle underneath a diamond chandelier. According to what he had been told, that was where the man would talk to heads of state or important people in the police department. Or the insurance people trying to get him to cover the damages he had caused when stopping a crime. On the other side of the massive room sat Endeavor's large, fireproof desk with a lamp on either side.
And behind it was Endeavor, hands clasped together as he eyes the young man slowly approaching him. The only sounds in the room were the soft footsteps of Hisashi against the floor and the flickering of the flames on Endeavor's face.
Soon enough Hisashi stood in front of the desk dressed not in a hero costume, as he had not received one yet, but in a worn and beaten tracksuit. One that had seemed brand new when he had gotten it but had been put through the same level of hell his body had. As the silence stretched on, a pit of worry began to grow within Hisashi's gut, not helped by how the man was staring at him. For a moment, Hisashi worried that he had done something wrong and was about to be fired. Though that seemed doubtful as Endeavor was not one to wait to let someone know when they screwed up. Nor would he call him up to the hero's personal office just to have him kicked out.
"Well Midoriya, looks like you kept your end of the deal," said Endeavor at last. "You might have annoyed me from time to time with your performance, but you never made me regret giving you this chance. As of right now, your trial period is over and you meet the minimal standards that I set for anyone using this program. There is still a lot of work to be done, but if you keep up at the pace you are on you should be at a decent level in four to five years. That is if you still want to continue."
"I do sir," replied Hisashi. "I haven't gone through everything just to give up now."
At that, Endeavor smirked briefly before pulling out a stack of documents. "Starting today, you will be given more responsibilities," he began. "Ones that I don't want to pull the other Flaming Sidekickers away to do. But, this is very important to me personally and I am giving you a great amount of trust. Please look over these documents and, once you sign, we will begin."
Hisashi nodded, a smile on his face as he turned the papers to face him and began to read. Back in college, Hisashi had studied contract law for a semester and, well, there was a reason that the expression 'the devil is in the details' was a thing. While employers weren't allowed to lie about what was in the contract or mislead others into signing them, it was an entirely different matter to not mention every little detail unless asked. So Hisashi wanted to make sure he knew what he was getting into. Something he knew would appease Endeavor. It was well known throughout the office that the pro hero hated people who never read their contracts and were only eager to attach their name to his. One of the more infamous stories that had been shared in the break room was about a U.A. student who had applied here for his work studies. Endeavor had handed him a work contract and, before the pro hero could say anything, the student had rushed to the back to sign on the dotted line. Not knowing that, on that page, he had agreed to become the new janitor for the rest of the year. The kid was later fired, whining day after day that it was unfair.
Thankfully, this wasn't the case with Hisashi. While he was a bit surprised by the duties, as well as feeling utterly unqualified to do them, he knew he had to try his best. When he got to the next page, he saw his benefits. Not only would he be getting some of the best health, dental, and life policies on the market but a massive increase in pay. There were pro heroes that didn't make this much money! Inko would be able to be a full-time mom and they would even be able to buy a house. With a nice yard. Maybe one day get Izuku a dog? He had always wanted one himself. Oh, was that a promise of recommendation to U.A?
Slowly, Hishasi looked up at Endeavor who was smiling a bit.
"I am aware you have a son the same age as my youngest. So I had that part added in for you for additional motivation," said Endeavor. "If your son wants to go to U.A., and he should since that's the best school in the country and not just for its hero course, then I will be happy to write a letter of recommendation for him. Providing he meets all the requirements listed. I will also take him on as an intern."
"That's, ah, wow," was all Hisahsi could say. "But what about your son?"
"Shoto? Oh, well, his future isn't written yet," commented Endeavor. "But, with that said, if he is as strong as I hope he will be, there should be no problem. Each pro hero is allowed only two letters of recommendation." The man's face then grew a bit more serious. "You are, however, aware that getting this letter is no guarantee of getting into the hero course. He'll still have to take the test. If that is what he wants, then you can bring him here so he can make use of the training facilities and anyone not on duty to train his quirk. But only once he reaches middle school. I'm not running a daycare."
"I-I understand," stammered a happy Hisashi as he went back to the documents. Already he could tell that he was securing a better future for his son. If his son wanted to become a hero, then with all this he'd be leaps and bounds in front of the other kids trying to get into the school. And, if he didn't, his future would still be good. Graduating from U.A. would open many doors to just about every college and university in the country. Maybe even getting him into I-Island! This was literally the dream package!
However, there were some conditions here and there. First, in regards to Izuku's U.A. recommendation letter, he would need to have decent grades. At least a B average regardless of where he wanted to go. Also, this deal would be terminated should Izuku gain a criminal record. It made sense as U.A. wouldn't allow him in if he had one. There was also another part that had him worried. The only way this entire contract would become null and void would be if he were fired due to gross incompetence. While it made sense and was very fair, it also made Hisashi a little worried.
Still, he signed on the dotted line while also writing in his codename: Matchstick.
After handing the papers back to Endeavor the pro hero checked them out before nodding. "Well, let's get started," he said before pulling out something else from under his desk. Once it was placed on the desk, Hisashi felt his eyes widen while Endeavor spoke. "This is a temporary costume. When you clock out for the day, make sure you head to HR. They'll have the paperwork you'll need along with the costume allowance specified. Needless to say, it won't be as high as some of the more seasoned sidekicks. At least for now. Once you finish and have a better handle on your quirk, the amount will be increased. Now, get changed and we'll head out."
Nodding, Hisashi quickly left the office to get changed.
Ten minutes later, Hisashi Midoriya walked out of the locker room feeling like a hero. His temporary hero suit was pretty much a white tracksuit with thick red gloves and matching boots. There was also a red utility belt with a belt buckle that was shaped like a flame. And, to top off the look, the man wore a red mask that reminded him of that old American fictional hero called Zorro. It was generic as all hell, something easily mass-produced. But, for Hisashi, he felt so damned proud in that moment.
After that, Hisashi got into a waiting limo with Endeavor. For the next half hour, the two sat in a comfortable silence. Endeavor just sat there, eyes closed as if he were taking a brief rest. As for Hisashi, he did his best not to show just how in awe he was and to not touch anything.
When the limo stopped, Endeavor's eyes instantly opened before leaving the vehicle. As Hisashi followed after him, he found himself outside of a nice home with a family waiting outside. A woman with white hair. Two boys, one with pure white hair while the other had white hair with streaks of red on the sides. And a young girl with white hair with red streaks all over.
"Hisashi Midoriya, I would like to introduce you to my family," said Endeavor, a hint of pride in his voice. "When you are not training and studying, you're sole duty is to watch over them in my stead. This is your top priority! Understand?"
"Yes sir," said Hisashi before bowing to the family. "I promise I will do my best to ensure you will all be taken care of!"
"See that you do," replied Endeavor with a nod. Then, the large man moved behind his family. "Now, for the proper introductions. This is my wife Rei." The man paused, giving his wife a brief smile before moving on to his children. "This here is Natsuo and Fuyumi. And the oldest here is the boy I am hoping will one day take over my agency. Perhaps even taking All Might down a peg in the hero tanking: Toya."
Hisashi did his best not to frown when he saw the children's reactions. Both Natsuo and Fuyumi seemed rather hurt by their less praiseworthy introductions. As for Toya, he looked down a little. No doubt he felt a bit uncomfortable by this declaration.
So, Hisashi did what he could do at that moment. He bent down so that he was at eye level with them before holding out a hand and flashing them with his most honest smile. "Nice to meet you all. I hope we can all get along." And, slowly, three small hands reached out to take his own.
End Flashback
"Wait," said Itsuka, eyes widening with realization as she interrupted the story. "You mean those people you were with were Endeavor's kids?"
"Natsuo and Fuyumi? Yeah, those were them," replied Hisashi, his eyes focused on the water before him as a nostalgic look appeared in his eyes. "Officially, I was there as a family bodyguard unless there was a situation that required all hands on deck. Something that didn't happen much and, when it did, I was to stay back to help coordinate with the police. So, when I wasn't training and drilling procedures into my skull, I was with the family. During the day, I would accompany Rei when she went out. Like when she went shopping, taking Shoto for a checkup, and to the park. With the kids, I was supposed to escort them to and from school along with a few other things. Like when they went on field trips or to a friend's house. But, I did a bit more than that. Like helping Fuyumi and Natsuo with their homework." The man then chuckled. "Or I'd find myself playing house with Fuyumi and heading to Natsuo's school because he didn't turn in his homework. After about a year of this, they just started to refer to me as Uncle Hisashi."
The man then leaned forward, seeming lost in pleasant memories of the past. "Those were such wonderful days," he said. "I remember there was this one time when Endeavor had to go away for a couple of weeks during the summer. God, I can still remember how the sun prinked against my skin. And if I was feeling it, imagine how a family of ice quirk users were feeling. AC blasting away, buckets of ice everywhere, and literally sandwiches made out of ice cream just to keep them cool. After the second day of that, I knew I had to do something."
Flashback
"Ok, we're here," announced Hisashi as he parked the van. Before him was a view right out of a postcard. A picture-perfect lake, the sun sparkling on the water with trees surrounding it. It was the type of thing that one could get lost in as they stared at it.
Yet, the same couldn't be said as he turned around to look at the kids. Toya was seated in the middle, frowning as he glanced at his sister and brother. Natsuo was dressed in dark blue swim trunks and a matching shirt, his face pressed against the vent that was blowing out the cold air. Fuyumi, at least, was trying to appear more mature as she sat there. She was wearing her school's one-piece swimsuit with a white and red stripped shirt over it that was two sizes too big for her. However, no one could miss the nervous glances she was giving the door handle. Like it was a serpent that would strike her the moment she touched it.
At the very least, Rei was the picture of calm. She sat there in the seat next to him, with Shoto in her arms breastfeeding him. Hisashi had not been keen to drive like this as, if anything happened to them on the road, Shoto could have gotten seriously hurt. Yet the sad truth was, if they wanted any peace in the car, Shoto had to be in his mother's arms. If she was anywhere in the vicinity and wasn't holding him, the little baby would begin crying up a storm. It was so bad that there was a running joke with the family that Shoto would grow up to be a mamma's boy.
Seeing he would have to make the first move, Hisashi got out of the driver's seat. Dressed in a red t-shirt and green trunk, the man walked over to the sliding car door to open it. As soon as the hot air hit the kids, Hisashi thought he heard them all hiss and groan.
"Come on," laughed the man, watching as they unbuckled their seat belts. "The sooner you get out of the van the sooner you can get to the water!"
This seemed to do the trick. Instantly the three kids scrambled to get out of the van, rushing towards the water right in front of them. Natsuo let out a scream as he tore off his shirt, tossing it to the side while he jumped into the water. While Hisashi was getting the cooler and towels, he looked over in time to see Natsuo closing his eyes while enjoying the feel of the water. Fuyumi, on the other hand, did her best to not look as desperate to get into the water. She found a spot near the waterfront where she then folded up her shit and then got into the water…
Only to then get splashed in the face by Natsuo.
As the two kids began to laugh, having a little splash war, Hisashi got to work making sure they would all be set for the day. He set out the beach towels and brought out a folding chair, parked in the shade for Rei. Once the woman took a seat, watching her kids while holding Shoto, Hisashi placed the cooler near her.
When he finished, he noticed something: Toya hadn't gone into the water. He just sat there in the shade with his legs pressed against his chest while watching his siblings play.
"Hey there," said Hisashi after approaching the eldest son of his boss. "Aren't you going to go take a dip or play around?"
"I," began Toya before he began to shift uncomfortably. "I don't think they want me here Uncle Hisashi."
Frowning gently Hisashi sat down next to Toya with a huff. "Oh, what makes you say that?" he asked. Though the man had a good idea of the answer.
"Because they hate me," Toya said, hugging himself a little tighter as he said so. "They're mad that I get special treatment from dad all the time. I'm the only one he trains to become a hero. I go to a special school and get special tutors. Everything I have is…special. And they don't like it."
"Hmm," replied Hisashi before he quickly wrapped an arm around Toya, surprising the boy as he got up.
"W-What are you doing?" he asked/yelled while kicking his feet.
"Not treating you like you're special," was all Hisashi said, laughing as he then tossed the boy into the lake water with the grace of a sack of potatoes. He watched as the boy flew through the air, arms and legs flailing through the air as he screamed until he hit the water with a loud smack. For a few moments, Hisashi stood there watching as Toya sank into the water before his head slowly popped out with a deadpanned look in his eyes. The sidekick nearly laughed at how intense his gaze was, like his father's whenever the pro hero was about to unleash a torrent of flames.
Hisashi was, thankfully, spared from such a fate by his allies. Laughing, both Natsuo and Fuyumi began to splash their older brother with water. This sudden 'attack' caused Toya to stumble backwards in the water, wiping away the additional water from his face. Then, suddenly, he reached backwards in a gesture that looked like he was going to throw a fireball at them only to instead dose the two in water. Both brother and sister shrieked as well as laughed at this, holding up their arms to block the water before retaliating.
Soon enough, all three of them were playing. Just like kids their age should. All thanks to their 'cool' Uncle Hisashi.
"Thank you again for doing all this," came Rei's voice. Turning around, Hisashi saw that the woman was sitting there in her chair still, holding little Shoto as he watched his family playing. "How did you ever convince Enji to go along with you?"
"Oh, it wasn't too difficult," said the man with a chuckle. "After he finished screaming at me over the phone for calling him while he was on duty, I just said that you all needed to get out for a bit. Can't take you to the public pool since you would get swarmed, making it harder to watch you so this would be the next best thing. And if he did, he might gain some brownie points with the kids."
Rei raised an eyebrow at that. "Really? That was all it took?" she asked in an incredulous tone.
Hisashi just shrugged. "Yeah, pretty much," replied the man. "He could have said no and then dealt with the kids complaining at him for not going to the beach. Or maybe it was to see if Toya liked it and could use this as motivation in the future. Like a reward for working so hard. Or, you know, he isn't a completely heartless man."
At first, Rei didn't say anything. She just kept her eyes on the kids playing out there in the water, splashing around and swimming like there was no tomorrow. Then, slowly, a hint of a smile appeared on her face.
"You have a point," she said. Before Hisashi could respond, she turned her attention towards him. "By the way, you know you could have brought your wife along. I've been dying to meet her for some time now along with that boy you can't stop bragging about."
"I don't brag about him that much…do I?" asked Hisashi. In return, both Rei and somehow Shoto shot him a deadpanned look.
"This morning you were bragging about how he spelled the word HERO with his letter blocks," responded Rei, her voice suddenly monotone. "Yesterday, you went on and on about how Izuku took two more steps than he did the day before. The day after that, I heard the 'exciting' tale about how he almost managed to pick up a spoon and feed himself. Then there was-"
"Ok, ok. I got it," said Hishasi, holding his hands up in surrender. "Sorry for being excited that my boy is growing up and being a proud father."
Rei held her expression for another few seconds before it broke, throwing her head back against the seat as she laughed. "I get it, I get it," she said with a voice full of humor. "I felt the same way with all my kids. Though you do remind me of Enji back when Toya was little. You should have seen him back then, recording how far Toya crawled all on his own and boasting about how strong he would be when he grew up." She then let out a sigh, like she was coming down from her emotional high. "But, seriously, when am I going to meet them?"
"No idea," replied Hiashi with a shake of his head. "I asked Inko, but she was just so nervous to bring Izuku out here."
"Well, next time you see her, tell her I don't bite," commented Rei with a grin. "I would love to get the chance to meet her and arrange a play date with our children."
With that, the two went back to watching the children playing in the water.
End Flashback
As Hisashi told his story, Itsuka really didn't know what to feel anymore. On one hand, Hishasi was clearly a parental figure for the Todoroki family. He went above and beyond doing what a bodyguard should do. He took care of their needs. Listened to their troubles and tried to help them in his own way. He was just there for them. And knowing that made Itsuka feel so very, very angry! Because he had done far more for the family of his employer than he did for his own! She knew he had not seen them in years, and actively avoided them! When was the last time he sat down with Izuku, listening to his troubles? Or took them to a freaking lake on a hot summer day? Instead, he was on the other side of the world. Sure he was working, but could he not take time off or give them a phone call?
On the other hand, if she took the story at face value, it was clear that Hisashi was always thinking about Izuku. He just seemed like one of those overly proud parents. And if that Shoto Todoroki was the same as the one on 1-A, perhaps they could have been best friends growing up. It would have been far better than growing up with Bakugo.
So the question now was: what happened? How did a guy who seemed so close to the Todoroki family, who was clearly doing his job well, and cared about his own family become the same excuse of a human being as the one sitting next to her? What happened to destroy all of that hard work?
As if reading Itsuka's mind, Hisashi continued.
"Then, one day, the dream ended and I was brought back to reality," said the man, new tears forming in his eyes.
Flashback
"Hey, sorry I'm late," said Hisashi as he walked into the Todoroki kitchen, wearing his official sidekick uniform. Though, to be honest, it didn't look that much different from the temporary one he had been given. The tracksuit had been replaced with a form-fitting material that was strong enough to protect him while also helping to keep him cool. But, that was pretty much it. Everything else looked the same, including the mask. The only other addition was the cape he wore because, well, capes were cool. Ok, it also doubled as a fire-resistant blanket to help people in fires as well as to protect him when facing other people with fire quirks. But…it was a cape! Capes were just too cool!
"I-It's fine," stammered Rei, looking like she was trying to keep herself composed. Both she and Enji knew that he would be late, both of them being notified that he had to drop off his family at the doctor's. Hisashi had explained that both he and Inko were worried because Izuku's quirk had yet to manifest. A concern that both Enji and Rei understood. Now, however, while there was still concern in Rei's voice Hisashi could tell it was split.
"What happened?" asked the sidekick, glancing down the hallway to where Rei was looking. Toya's room. As he did, warning bells began to blare in his head. He had seen Endeavor just a few minutes ago, stomping down the road and looking ready to burn everything that crossed his path.
"Dad has a new favorite," said Natsuo from out in the hallway. Hisashi turned to look at the boy, finding his hands in his pockets. He could see there was hate in the kid's eyes, though he could tell that it wasn't intended for Toya.
"Natsuo!" cried Rei, turning around to give her son a disapproving look.
"What? It's true," replied Natsuo before stomping away.
"Ah, what brought that on?" asked Hisashi, now sounding very alarmed.
"…We found out what Shoto's quirk is," said Rei slowly, clearly doing her best to keep her own emotions in check with the situation. "He has a perfect mix. Half-fire and half-ice. It's the quirk that Enji had been hoping one of his children would get as it would, in theory, help balance out our original quirks weaknesses."
"Ok," said Hisashi slowly. It was no secret around the agency that Endeavor was hoping that Shoto would get a fusion of his quirk as well as his wife's. He seemed to take the fact that Shoto's hair was split down the middle as a sign that it was true. But despite that, the man also knew it was not a guarantee and was waiting for it to become official. "So, does this mean that Shoto is going to be training with Toya from now on?"
At first, Rei sounded like she was about to say yes but stopped herself. "Kind of," she amended. "It's a little complicated. Enji…he's been noticing that Toya's flames are getting hotter and is overheating much faster. He's also beginning to burn himself. So, while we were confirming Shoto's quirk, we decided to double-check Toya. He…His body is more like mine and his siblings. There seems to be very little resistance to the fire and heat. Enji decided to address this sooner rather than later."
"Well that makes sense," agreed Hisashi with a nod. The last thing he wanted was for the kid to hurt himself with his own quirk. He was about to say this when he suddenly realized something. "He didn't tell him right after you all got home, did he?"
"Like I said: sooner rather than later," responded Rei with a heavy sigh.
"Oh man," sighed Hisashi. "I take it Toya didn't take it well."
"No one is taking it well," said Rei flatly. "Enji just wanted to put Toya's training on hold until he could get in touch with a few support companies to get gear that would help. Maybe a month or two. And if the gear didn't work then Toya would have to wait till we came up with a new plan. But Toya, he never let his father finish. Just felt like he was being kicked to the side just like Fuyumi and Natsuo. Some things were said and it quickly devolved from there. Last I saw, he ran into his room."
Without realizing it, Hisashi had brought a gloved hand to his face and was slowly sliding it down. Yeah, this was a mess. Over the past year, Toya had been having some slight panic attacks. Ones he had tried his best to hide from everyone. Heck, Hisashi wouldn't have been aware of them if he hadn't stumbled on the poor kid hunched in a corner talking to himself through his own tears. That day, he had sat by Toya, listening to him as the kid poured out his heart. How, while he didn't like being special, he was afraid that his father would toss him to the side just like how he had done to his siblings. That all that hard work, all that training, would be for nothing. A fear made all the worse due to all the additional burns he was getting along with not being able to train as long as he used to. When the boy had finished, he had begged his Uncle Hisashi not to tell his father fearing that this weakness would only cement this fate.
Hisashi was now kicking himself for making and keeping that promise. Mainly because he never thought this day would come.
"I hate to ask you this, but could you talk to him," continued Rei, pulling Hisashi out of his thoughts. "I've tried talking to him through his door but he just keeps telling me to go away. Maybe you could help?"
"Of course," replied Hisashi, flashing her a bright smile and giving her a thumbs up. "Leave it to me. I think have just the way to get Toya to see reason." In fact, he did. The kid needed to hear that his father wasn't giving up on him. That he wasn't going to flush years of hard work down the drain just because something shiny and new came around. Heck, he was still trying to beat the very first Mega Man game in the employee break room before going on to the next!
Just as he was about to explain this, the man's phone rang. Pulling it out, his eyes widened a bit when he saw it was Inko. Which was odd since she rarely ever called him at work.
"It's my wife," he said before looking over at Rei who also looked alarmed. "Do you mind if I take this call first?"
"No, no," replied Mrs. Todoroki as she eyed the phone nervously. "By all means."
Nodding, Hisashi accepted the call and brought the phone up to his ear. "Inko? Is everything ok?" he asked, hoping they hadn't been caught in a villain attack or there was an accident.
"Hisashi," sobbed Inko. "I-It's Izuku. W-We got his diagnosis. H-H-He's quirkless." At that, Hisashi felt like the world had been pulled out from under his feet. So much so that he almost collapsed right then and there. Quirkless? How? How was that possible? Both he and Inko were second generation! There should be no way that Izuku wouldn't be born with a quirk. Just no way.
"And," continued Inko with a choked sob. "He found out in the w-worst possible way. That d-doctor. H-He was horrible! Just slouching there with h-his hands on his stomach, s-sounding like he d-didn't g-give a damn. H-He even crushed o-our baby's dream, s-saying h-he couldn't become a hero." Hisashi was now bracing himself against the way, Rei watching him while looking extra pale. No doubt she was hearing everything with how close she was and how little Inko was able to keep her voice down.
"That bastard," growled Hisashi, not caring if Natsuo or Fuyumi heard him while his mind raced in a panic. "Maybe…Maybe this is a malpractice thing. The doctor sounds like he's sketchy. Should we get a different opinion?"
"He showed me the tests," cried Inko. "You should see Izuku right now. He…He just keeps watching that scary All Might video over and over while crying. I…I'm scared. I don't want to get his hopes up only to watch them shatter into a thousand pieces. It'll d-destroy our baby." Inko then let out another sob. "I don't know what to do. What if he asks me if he can still be a hero? How am I supposed to answer that?"
Hisashi could no longer form words as he stumbled backwards until his back hit a wall. He was aware that Rei was watching him with clear worry in her eyes, but he saw none of that. All Hisashi could see was his son crying. He wanted to find a way to fix this, to tell him it would be alright. But was that even possible?
Then, a horrible realization came to Hisashi. His son was quirkless…just like his grandparents.
Midoriya suddenly found his legs would no longer support him, falling to the ground in a heap as he almost started to hyperventilate. He could now see it, his son with his grandparents standing right behind him. God, was this some cruel twist of fate? Some sort of sick comic punishment for the way he behaved? And, if he had gotten away treating his own grandparents like that then what would his son's life be like? Would he…no, he wouldn't. But…
Hisashi's mind was a whirlwind as time seemed to lose all meaning until he heard that Toya was missing.
The next day…
"I WAS A FOOL TO TRUST YOU!" roared Endeavor, flaming beard and mustache three times larger than normal as he looked down at the smaller mine with eyes full of rightful anger.
Meanwhile, Hisashi couldn't meet the man's ire as his face was locked in a mixture of so many emotions. Disbelief. Horror. Sadness. Emptiness. Tired. The man's costume was caked in ash and dust, his voice almost non-existent from spending the night running through the forest that had suddenly caught on fire. A fire that had an eerie blue flame to it. And a forest where they had managed to track Toya to. All night, Hisashi had been doing everything he could to find the boy, screaming out of Toya until other heroes and police had to pull him out for his own safety.
Now, all that was left were the smoldering remains of a few trees. The rest ash. Not even the lake where he had once taken the family still remained, destroyed in a landslide. The picturesque landscape would never return to its glory. Only the memories of it and Toya remained.
"I," continued a seething Endeavor loudly. "I put my faith in you. I entrusted my family to you! And YOU let this happen!" Hisashi said nothing in his defense, just standing there with his head down. Once more the reality of the situation was crushing him. Toya was dead. Killed in a fire, just like his grandparents. All while he survived.
"Get out of my sight," growled Endeavor. "If I ever see you again…I don't think I'll be able to hold myself…" Unable to even finish his treat, Endeavor turned away with his sidekicks in tow. And only then did Hisashi fall to his knees.
End Flashback
"That was the day I lost everything," said Hisashi, fighting back fresh tears. "Inko, bless her heart, did her best to tell me that I did everything I could. That we would make it through everything. But I knew it was all my fault. Toya's death. Izuku being quirkless. It was all my fault."
"I," began Itsuka, but stopped herself in confusion. Toya's death was one thing where she could see him pinning the blame on himself. It was something he had the ability to prevent. But at the same time, she could argue he wasn't totally at fault. His head wasn't in a good place after getting his own dose of horrible news. There was no way he could have known that Toya would run away. Or that he would set the forest on fire for whatever reason. And, when he did find out, he had done everything in his power to try and save someone he saw as a nephew. Did all that erase the pain he felt? Probably not. But it would be something at she, as a hero in training would tell him.
On the other hand, him blaming himself for Izuku being quirkless was confusing. Had he done some drugs before he and Inko conceived Izuku? Ones that would have been powerful enough to impact Izuku's DNA? As far as she was aware, there were none.
"How do you figure that?" she asked slowly.
"It's a punishment," he said. "From my grandparents. It's the only thing that makes sense."
"No," responded Itsuka instantly, a frown appearing on her face. "That makes no sense. I get you're trying to make sense out of a few really bad instances. But, sometimes, bad things just sort of happen."
"You sound like Inko before I left," whispered Hisashi. "But it's the only thing that makes any sense to me. When I'm happy, it's the people around me that suffer. They lose their jobs, freedom, and even their lives. Izuku…there's no reason he shouldn't have been born without a quirk. None! His quirk was taken from him, punishing him to get to me. And Toya. That poor boy. How could I not see it before? My grandparents, I was so cruel to them. I made their lives a nightmare, taking away whatever joys they had. So, they are doing the same to me. Taking it away. Izuku and Toya. Quirkless and flames. It all became so clear to me.
"That's why I left. That's why I now live in a tiny, rat-filled apartment with barely anything to eat. Why I stay in a job that makes me hate my life. I need to punish myself. To never have a moment of true happiness. And, you know what? It's working! After ten years of misery, my son got his quirk back. He's happy. He has friends! Going to his dream school. I'm doing that for him!"
With that, Hisashi stood up and began to leave. But Itsuka, none of this was right. As she stared at the retreating back, she could finally see Hisashi as the person he truly was. A man so burdened by his sins, his failures, his feelings of shame that he clung to whatever he could to try and make it make sense to him. And this, this was what he had come to. It probably didn't help that it was only after years of being like this that he began to hear about all the good stuff going on with Izuku.
Hisashi Midoriya was someone who needed to be saved. But, how could she do that? Stopping a villain or rescuing someone buried under rubble were one thing. But this? This was something that All Might never taught them. And if Inko couldn't convince her husband, then what chance did she have?
Though, that didn't mean she wasn't going to try.
"You know you're wrong," said Itsuka as she stood, staring at the man's back. "Izuku…he's not completely happy. You not being there hurts him." That caused Hisashi to stop. "Even now, even after being away after all this time, Izuku still wants to spend time with you. Inko too! I know she still misses you."
"They'll be happier in the long run without me. Even if they don't realize it," was all Hisashi said. "I'd say something cheesy like take good care of my boy…but I have a feeling you'd do that no matter what I said. So, I'll continue to be miserable so that you two can find happiness." And with that, Hisashi continued to walk away.