Chapter 8

The first few minutes of the phone call were awkward, stilted. He barely spoke, his voice a low rumble on the other end of the line. He still had that same, uncanny air of authority, even after all this time. The past was still there, hanging over us in a heavy cloud.

"Tomura," he finally said, using my given name for the first time in… well, ever.

"Father," I replied, the word feeling foreign and uncomfortable on my tongue.

Silence stretched between us, thick and heavy.

"So," he said after a moment. "What brings you to call after all this time?"

I hesitated. How do I explain this to the man who spent my entire life molding me into a weapon?

"I…" I started, then stopped. "I need advice."

He chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "Advice? From me? I never thought I'd hear those words."

"I…" I took a breath. "I have a child now."

The silence on the other end was even heavier this time. I could almost feel his surprise radiating through the phone.

"A child?" he finally said, his voice laced with disbelief. "How…?"

I briefly explained the situation, omitting the details about X and my own… methods. I just told him I had rescued her and that she had no one else.

"And you intend to… raise her?" he asked, his tone carefully neutral.

"I don't know what I'm doing," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know how to be a father."

There was a long pause. "It is… complicated," he said finally. "Perhaps more than you can comprehend. It's easier if you are a hero. You give affection and people start to become attached. It's harder for someone like us but not impossible."

He gave me some advice, surprisingly practical and heartfelt. He told me to be patient, to listen, to show her that she was safe and loved. He spoke of the importance of boundaries, of discipline, but also of understanding and compassion. It was… nice. Unexpected. And, surprisingly, helpful.

"She's traumatized," I said, my voice catching in my throat. "I don't know how to help her heal."

"Time," he said simply. "Time and unwavering support."

He spoke for another few minutes, offering words of encouragement and guidance. It was the closest thing to a genuine conversation we'd ever had.

"Thank you," I said, meaning it.

"Don't mention it," he replied, his voice softening slightly. "And Tomura… take care of her."

The call ended. I sat there for a long time, staring at the phone. All For One, giving fatherly advice. The irony was almost laughable.

I laid down and finally went to sleep. My head was still swimming from everything that happened, but my heart felt a little lighter.

The next morning, Eri was waiting for me in the living room, Winter clutched tightly in her arms. She looked hesitant, uncertain. But there was also a spark of hope in her eyes.

I smiled at her, a genuine smile that reached my eyes. "Good morning, Eri."

She smiled back, a small, shy smile. "Good morning…"

I made breakfast – strawberries and toast, her favorite. We ate in comfortable silence, the only sound the gentle hum of the city outside. For the first time in a long time, I felt… content.

But lurking in the back of my mind were the whispers of X, and the knowledge that I was living on borrowed time. I can't stay hidden forever, and people will start to ask questions.

I need to figure things out. And quick.

I need to start my investigation, to see why the heros didn't catch Overhaul. No matter the cost.