Chapter 23

The lingering scent of miso and rice filled the air as I pushed back the empty bowl. My head, thankfully, wasn't throbbing anymore, the lingering remnants of yesterday finally fading. Kenji calling me in sick had been a godsend; I couldn't have faced school in my current state. The quiet of the house was almost eerie. Mom was probably out with her friends, and Izuku was definitely at UA, likely being put through the wringer by All Might. I stretched, a satisfying crack in my spine, and headed for the shower. After a quick scrub, I threw on some comfortable clothes and headed out.

My hand instinctively went to the keys of my red sports car, a birthday gift from Dad after I made it to the top of the Junior Hero Charts. It was a bit of a show, the Junior Hero Charts – just like the pros, but for the top 20 hero-in-training students. No surprise, I was number one. I mean, with the powers I had, it'd be embarrassing not to. Izuku was right behind me at number two, of course. We were always competing, always pushing each other, just like Dad and Kenji in their day. It was a weird kind of comforting to know that the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

I grinned, thinking of our group, the memories of middle school bubbling up. Me, Alex Sero – my best friend since kindergarten, Diamond Kaminari, Eliza Kirishima, and Marcus Ashido. We were a chaotic mess of personalities, but we were a squad, thicker than thieves. I pulled out onto the street, the familiar rumble of the engine a comfort. My destination: the Kaminari mansion. A grandiose estate of gold and black, the gates adorned with black lightning bolts, screaming of Kenji's hero persona, Electrix. Kenji and Diana were in the top 20 pro heroes charts, and their kids, Denki and Diamond, were like siblings to Izuku and me. Denki, Izuku's best friend, and Diamond, my partner in crime, we had a bond that ran deeper than just friendship.

As I pulled into the driveway, Diamond was there, leaning against the wall, filming a TikTok. We exchanged quick greetings before I headed inside. Diana, her yellow hair with its signature purple streaks pulled back into a ponytail, was just heading out for her patrol. We traded a quick hug; her energy always felt warm and calm, a stark contrast to her powerful quirk.

I found Kenji in his office. His face was a mask of fury, his eyebrows drawn into a tight line, his mouth a thin, straight line. My stomach dropped. Kenji was the epitome of cool, like my dad - that's why they were called the "cool kids" in high school. Seeing him like this was alarming. As I approached his desk, his expression softened slightly.

"Anos, thanks for coming," he said, his voice low. "I need to talk to you about last night." He gestured to the computer screen. "The security footage from your dad's agency, from last night when he was in his office…"

I took a seat and stared at the playback. The footage began with a scene of my dad, Hizashi, working late in his office. Then, he appeared. Endeavor. He walked in with a despicable smirk plastered on his face, as a huge blast of flames erupted from him, aimed directly at my dad. Hizashi, always alert, barely dodged the attack and they begin to exchange words, yelling.

(Flashback)

Endeavor storms into Hizashi's office, flames licking at his fingertips, a smirk twisting his lips. "Hizashi," he growls, his voice a low rumble, "still trying to steal my spot, eh? It won't happen. You think you've got it all, with your perfect life and perfect son? I'll destroy you. I'll destroy Anos too, and I'll be right back on top where I belong!"

Hizashi's eyes narrowed, and he shot back with his own fire quirk, a wave of intense heat clashing with Endeavor's flames. "Enji, what the hell are you talking about?"

The clash of quirks intensified as they battled, fists flying with brutal force. "It's your fault my eldest son, Touya, didn't get into UA. Anos got in, and my Touya didn't." Endeavor yelled, his face contorted with rage.

"What does that have to do with anything, Enji? Your son made the decision! He is the one who didn't make it. Not me, not my sons, YOU!"

The battle escalated, punches and flames, until Endeavor landed a brutal blow to Hizashi. He screamed and yelled about how it was our fault and that he is going to win. The fight ended with Enji leaving with an evil smirk on his face.

(End of Flashback)

My blood ran cold. What was that supposed to mean? 'You think you have a perfect life and perfect son'? 'It's your fault Touya didn't get into UA'? What did any of this have to do with me? Or Izuku? Why was Endeavor lashing out like this?

Kenji's silence was deafening, the weight of the situation pressing down on us. My brain was a whirlwind of unanswered questions. Why me? Why Dad? Why now? It felt like the world was tilting on its axis, and I was scrambling for a handhold.

Kenji finally broke the silence, his gaze calm. "I know, Anos. It's a lot to take in. But we'll figure this out. Together." He understood my confusion and pain, he was willing to help me find those answers, but a part of me knew we didn't have the luxury of time. Endeavor wasn't one to sit still. He was like a coiled snake, ready to strike.

We looked at each other, two minds wrestling with the same impossible questions. We sat there, silently communicating, our thoughts echoing off the walls of the opulent office. What do we do now? If Endeavor came back, he wouldn't be coming for just me; he'd be coming for Dad, for our family. He would try to destroy everything we held dear. And that... that was a terrifying prospect.