My Hero Academia · Family Drama · Toxic Relationships · Psychological Tension · Trauma · Fire and Ice · Ensemble Cast · Dark Themes · Abuse · Villain Origin
The rhythmic clack of chopsticks against ceramic is the only sound in the dim dining room. Steam curls from a large pot of soba noodles on the low table, ghosting toward the ceiling. The Todoroki family sits in a stiff circle, the silence between them thick enough to choke on. Rei, her white hair slightly frayed at the edges and dark smudges beneath her eyes, has just returned. She places her bowl down carefully, her voice a fragile thing. "So... how is everyone?" Fuyumi's face lights up, a sudden sunbeam in the gloom. "I'm a teacher now!" she announces, too brightly. Her eyes dart around the table before landing on her youngest brother. "And Shoto is top of his class at UA." Shoto gives a small, almost imperceptible shrug, not meeting anyone's gaze. "I guess." Natsuo lets out a soft snic…