Chapter Text
Enji Todoroki was an ambitious man. It was something he’d prided himself on all his life. His ambition made him a recommendation student at UA. He won each and every Sports Festival he participated in, crushing his classmates and peers with complete ease. He had climbed to the rank of the Number 2 Hero when he was just 20.
But ambition can only carry a man so far.
Especially when imbeciles like All Might stand in his way.
“All Might, how’s it feel to be declared the Number 1 Hero 5 years in a row?!” Some useless interviewer says on the TV, yammering away pointlessly.
All Might, the fool, laughs his disgusting hardy laugh and smiles his thoughtless smile. “It’s a true honour to know that I am supported by so many people in Japan and across the world. I will continue to do whatever it takes to ensure I can be the Symbol of Peace and create a peaceful world for everyone to live in!”
Enji snarls and stomps away from the TV, further down the street. Blasted street TV shops, blaring the news and distracting him. Blasted interviewer, who didn’t even mention him.
Most of all, blasted All Might for existing. Enji had been raised to become the Number 1 Hero. His father was a Hero, as was his grandfather and his great-grandfather was one of the first Heroes in the world. It’s in his blood to be the Number 1 Hero now.
But with fools like All Might thoughtlessly smiling for the world and being impossibly strong, that goal is out of his reach.
When Enji had been a first year at UA, All Might had just returned from his exploits in America, that were always bragged about by that damn first year homeroom teacher he had. As if that old git could have been the one to train All Might.
Enji looks around as he continues his patrol, but there’s hardly any civilians this late at night and he hasn’t spotted any villains yet. But he does see All Might.
Everywhere.
The fool is on some TV again, having broken another record for how long he’s worked. He’s in the window of a shop as some disgusting plush toy a sniffling child would need at night. A glossy poster flies in the wind, a pointless advertisement to All Might’s third movie.
Enji sees two teenagers waving at him further down the street and he snarls.
They freeze up and turn around, running away.
Enji huffs and keeps walking.
Stupid children, out this late. They may as well be asking to get kidnapped. Civilians are so annoying to deal with. If he had his way, he'd never have to deal with another civilian in his life. He despised being one and he despises dealing with them when they act like they know more about heroics than he does. He’s the Number 2 Hero, of course he knows heroics!
But so long as All Might is alive, that’s all he’ll ever be. Number 2.
Enji wonders what All Might did to become the Number 1 Hero. What made him so special?
His late father’s words resound in his head. “ Every Hero is only as good as their Quirk and their training. That’s all there is to it, boy. If you want to be the best, you simply have to be the strongest. And if you can’t overcome your own weaknesses, you find someone who can. ”
That person who’d helped his father overcome his weaknesses was his mother. Enji had the brilliant Quirk of Hellfire, but it was born from his parents’ Quirks merging; his father’s fire creation Quirk and his mother’s energy creation Quirk. Because they’d married, Enji had been gifted a Quirk that held the best qualities from both of them, without their drawbacks.
However, even Enji’s Hellfire has it’s limits. Or rather, his body has it’s limits. He can only get so hot before he overheats and puts himself out of commission. As hard as he’s trained, he’s never been able to entirely train away the overheating problem of his Quirk.
Enji looks at his reflection in a window. He’s a mighty Hero, a giant in his own right.
But All Might is a mountain of a man and Enji knows he will never reach the summit.
Enji looks out into the streets and spots a young couple walking together, the man carrying his daughter on his shoulders while the woman beside him is heavily pregnant.
Enji will never reach All Might’s power.
But maybe…
Maybe Enji’s child would be able to reach the summit.
Enji knew his weaknesses better than most Pros do. But he also knew exactly who to contact to find ways to counter measure those weaknesses.
“How fortunate! What an absolute honour!” The Himura head smiles and waves his arms. “Why, we never dreamed that the great Endeavour-the man many say will be the next Number 1-would reach out to us!”
Enji ignores the pointless praise. He knows this man only hopes to butter him up.
No, he focuses on the Himura daughter, who will be his bride. She sits there, still as ice, her hair pale white and her eyes a pale brown. Nothing remarkable about her appearance and no make up either. Not even ear piercings. Unblemished.
Good. He doesn’t need a wife who’s already been squandered on someone else.
“The Himura family was also once considered prestigious, with a long and storied history…” The Himura head gestures proudly to his daughter. “So it’s only fitting that a top hero such as yourself take a Himura woman for a bride.”
“We really are quite honoured by your interest in marrying our oldest.” The Himura wife lays a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Rei knows all that is necessary to run a household and is well trained. Really, with a career as busy as a top Hero, she’ll be all too happy to ensure there’s food on the table for you and clean clothes after each shift.”
The daughter stays still, perfectly poised.
“I thank you for this meeting. May I take her to the garden to speak with her?” Enji raises to his feet.
The Himura head nods, clasping his hands together. “Of course, of course. Our home is your home, after all!”
Enji nods and the daughter rises to her feet as well. They walk out of the room and into the garden together. It’s traditional, just as his family home was too. Of course, the home they’ll live in will be traditional as well.
“Endeavour, are you sure you want to marry me right now?” The daughter speaks up behind him.
Enji glances over his shoulder at her, scowling. “Why wouldn’t I?”
He doesn’t like that she’s asking questions. She’s strong, he can sense it. But she’ll melt soon enough.
Sure enough, at his tone she flinches, but straightens her back. “I’m 16, Endeavour. Only a year and a few months shy of my 18th birthday and graduating high school. Do you really want an uneducated bride? Can’t you wait another year and some months? Please?”
Enji scoffs. She truly asks too many questions. Guess she wasn’t as well trained as her mother claimed she was.
“A Pro Hero like myself, even a Top Rank Pro, can die any time in the field. I’m always racing against the clock. Really, it’s in our best interests for us to marry sooner rather than later.” Enji rolls his eyes. “You won’t need a career when you become my wife, I’ll provide for you. Continuing your education won’t be of any use.”
The daughter’s hand twitches at her side, but she cools her face into a neutral expression. “...I understand. Can I at least finish this semester? Say farewell to my friends?”
Enji considers it. He supposes preparations for the wedding and finding a doctor who will assist them with the Quirk Marriage will take some time, but not that much. Likely enough for her to finish the semester in three weeks.
“You may. We’ll marry the day after this semester ends.” Enji agrees. “I take it you have no interest in ceremonies?”
She lifts her head. “I think my mother would insist on having one. I’m only agreeing to this Quirk Marriage for her and father after all.”
Enji grunts. Well if he can get the Himura head on his side, it shouldn’t be too difficult to convince the wife it’s in their best interests to skip a ceremony.
“I’ll speak to your parents then.” Enji declares.
The daughter looks at him with wider eyes, but lowers her head and nods. “Very well then, Endeavour. I’ll marry you in three weeks.”
Enji nods. “In three weeks.”
And hopefully within nine months he’ll have his successor.
Enji’s prayers are answered only 2 months after his marriage.
“Endeavour?”
Enji lifts his head from the incident report. He hates it when his wife disturbs his work.
“What is it?” He turns to her.
She’s standing in the doorway. Normally she’s cool as ice, but she’s smiling.
And she’s holding a pregnancy test.
Enji’s eyes widen. “Are you…”
“I think so.” His wife nods. “I think it would be best to go to the doctor, just to be sure and I’m not sure how far along I am. But I think I’m pregnant.”
Enji nods. “We’ll go at once. You call the doctor, I’ll get the car ready.”
His wife bows and leaves his office.
Soon enough, they’re in the hospital and the old doctor confirms it.
“She’s about a month and two weeks along, Endeavour.” Dr. Ujiko explains, looking at his clipboard. “She should start experiencing morning sickness in another two weeks and the embryo will become a fetus.”
His wife smiles and turns to him. “Isn’t that good?”
Enji nods and smiles. “Note down anything important the doctor tells you. You need to maintain your peak condition. My future masterpiece needs to be healthy.”
His wife’s smile freezes for a bit, then she nods. “Of course. The child matters more than anything.”
“Glad you understand.” Enji turns to the doctor. “When should we expect her to give birth?”
“Most pregnancies last between 37 and 42 weeks. Any time earlier than 37 weeks the baby will be premature and any time after 42 weeks it’ll be considered a prolonged pregnancy; either situation will cause complications.” Dr. Ujiko explains, typing away at his computer. “You can expect the child to be born some time this winter, if all goes well.”
His wife smiles and holds her hand over her stomach. “I… I always wanted a winter child.” She cooes. “My little snowflake.”
Enji rolls his eyes. What a sentimental fool.
“Thank you, doctor.” His wife says. “When should I be back?”
The two arrange an appointment and Enji takes his wife back to their house. They normally drive in peace and quiet, but she won’t stop squirming and petting her stomach.
“Endeavour, can…” She stops her question, finally learning.
Enji stops at a red light. “What do you want?”
“Can I name the child? And any future ones?” His wife says quietly but clearly.
Enji considers. He doesn’t much care for whatever name the baby will have.
“You may.” Enji permits.
His wife smiles at him. “Thank you, Endeavour.”
They continue the drive and Enji awaits the day his successor will be born.
On January 11 2205, Shouto Todoroki is born and Enji knows he’s struck gold.
The boy has red and white hair. A perfect split of himself and his wife.
And one day, the boy sneezes. Out of his left side comes a little burst of fire and out of his right comes a spray of snowflakes.
It’s the ideal Quirk. His Hellfire power and his wife’s ice to regulate himself.
Shouto is a masterpiece. A true and utter masterpiece. That boy will become the one to surpass All Might, he knows it in his bones.
His wife is pleased as well, holding his masterpiece. “Oh, Shouto, be careful, haha.”
The boy babbles and giggles and even Enji can’t stop himself from smiling.
“Isn’t he wonderful, Enji?” His wife turns to him. “Oh, I, I can imagine what a brilliant big brother he’ll be.”
For a moment, Enji is startled. “Excuse me?”
His wife stiffens, tucking his son back into her arms. “Oh, I…”
Enji stands up. “Explain yourself, Rei.”
She looks up at him, but lowers her eyes. “Yes, Endeavour. I know this was a Quirk Marriage. And Shouto already has a wonderful Quirk and is a wonderful child. But I assumed you’d want more than one.”
Enji narrows his eyes. He supposes that makes sense. There was no guarantee that the first child would have such a perfect Quirk.
But artists don’t become famous for a single masterpiece. They became famous for creating several masterpieces, each more perfect than the last.
All Might may be a mountain. But he’s only one man, with no wife or children of his own.
Enji has a wife though and one child already. One who already has the perfect Quirk for heroics. If this continues, then he’ll be able to forge a legacy of Heroes that will outshine and outlast not only himself but All Might as well.
“Very well then.” Enji says.
His wife gasps and looks him in the eye. “Really?”
Enji nods. “We’ll have another child. We should give your body time to recover from the pregnancy though and to properly care for Shouto. We can begin trying in a year.”
His wife holds the boy tighter. “Oh. A year.”
Enji narrows his eyes. “Is that a problem?”
His wife looks at her feet. “Of course not, Endeavour.”
“Good. Take proper care of the boy and remain in peak condition. That’s all I ask of you.” Enji instructs and turns away.
Soon enough, he’ll have an entire army of masterpieces to take over All Might’s legacy. It won’t be long now until Shouto will be old enough to begin training. He’ll finally surpass All Might. After all...
Enji Todoroki is an ambitious man.