Seriously though, I do need a definite answer, should Fuyumi be a romantic possibility? Or shall I simply off-screen her, it's one or the other btw.
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Endeavor's fists slammed into the weighted training bag, each hit producing a loud thud that reverberated through the room. His mind, however, wasn't entirely focused on the physical exertion.
He kept returning to the meeting held yesterday, where Detective Tsukauchi Naomasa had presented his case regarding the suspected spy at U.A. High School. The idea that someone within the U.A., possibly within Class 1-A, was feeding information to the League of Villains left a bitter taste in his mouth.
As he continued his workout, he replayed the list of suspects in his mind.
No. 4: Eijiro Kirishima. Endeavor wasn't too familiar with the boy, but from what he'd seen, Kirishima's quirk, "Hardening," didn't raise any immediate red flags. He was young, eager, and perhaps too straightforward to be involved in espionage.
Tsukauchi's reasoning for including Kirishima on the list was his proximity to the other suspects. That made sense strategically, but it didn't sit well with Endeavor. The kid didn't seem to have the cunning needed to pull something like that off.
No. 3: Katsuki Bakugo. Now, this one made more sense, Endeavor thought as he wiped the sweat from his brow. Bakugo's explosive temperament and overwhelming power made him a prime candidate to draw attention.
He was aggressive, always ready to fight, and yet there was no clear sign of him having inside knowledge. His destruction at the U.S.J. was impressive, sure, but it was raw power and instinct, not calculated or premeditated. Tsukauchi didn't seem to think Bakugo had the subtlety to be a spy either, and Endeavor agreed.
No. 2: Momo Yaoyorozu. Endeavor stopped for a moment, considering the heiress to the Yaoyorozu family. Momo was intelligent, calm, and strategic. Her quirk, "Creation," gave her a wide range of utility, and with her family's wealth and connections, she had the means to potentially be involved in something deeper.
Still, her performance at the U.S.J. didn't scream betrayal or deception. She had done what was expected of her—perhaps even more. But the fact that she had the means didn't entirely absolve her in Tsukauchi's eyes. A good spy would cover their tracks flawlessly.
Finally, Endeavor's mind landed on the two No. 1 suspects: Izuku Midoriya and Kurokami Tenshin.
Midoriya was an odd one. Quiet, unassuming, but with a remarkable quirk that seemed to appear out of nowhere. His actions during the U.S.J. attack were almost too perfect, like someone who knew how things would unfold.
Yet, there wasn't a shred of concrete evidence that pointed to him being a spy. Tsukauchi was cautious, and that made Endeavor uneasy. Even All Might's obvious attachment to the boy was suspicious in itself. It was clear All Might had some interest in Midoriya that went beyond mere mentorship.
Then there was Kurokami Tenshin. Endeavor's brow furrowed at the thought of him. Kuro's attitude during the U.S.J. attack was… off. Too calm, too prepared, and almost as if he had been anticipating every move.
His performance during the fight was impressive, no doubt, but it was his strange demeanor that had everyone second-guessing. Kuro's foresight in handing Aizawa a pair of goggles that could keep up with that Nomu and the way he carried himself with such nonchalance—could it be a mask for something deeper? Or was he truly just that odd?
Endeavor struck the bag harder, feeling the leather give way slightly. The name All For One lingered in his thoughts. Could that be the connection? Could one of these students, especially Kurokami or Midoriya, be tied to that infamous villain?
The memory of All Might staring intently at the files, particularly the ones on Kuro and Midoriya, stood out to Endeavor. All Might's silence spoke volumes. He knew something—Endeavor was sure of it. But what? And how much could All Might afford to keep secret in the face of such a threat?
As Endeavor continued his training, he reminded himself of one thing: It didn't matter who the spy was. His focus was on training Shoto to surpass All Might. These distractions, though troubling, wouldn't change his goal.
However, the thought that his son could be part of this twisted situation brought a rare flicker of concern. Shoto had been deeply involved in the U.S.J. incident too, though he wasn't listed as a suspect.
Endeavor clenched his fists, his thoughts a whirlwind of possibilities. He pushed aside any concern about the spy for now. His priority was making sure that Shoto was strong enough to face whatever challenges came next, whether that be the Sports Festival or something far darker on the horizon.
But still… something felt off. The uneasy feeling in his gut remained as he threw another punch at the bag, almost tearing it from its chain.
...
Endeavor wiped the sweat from his brow and turned toward the door of his private training room, already annoyed at the disturbance. He expected to see his daughter, Fuyumi, coming to interrupt him, as she often did when she had some trivial matter to discuss. Instead, he was greeted by the sight of a wild tuft of black hair and a familiar face: Kurokami Tenshin, the oddball classmate of his son, Shoto.
Standing in the doorway, Kuro bounced on the balls of his feet, his wide grin beaming with uncontained excitement. "Endeavor! Fight me!"
Endeavor's eyes narrowed, irritation clear on his face. Of all the people who could have interrupted his training, it had to be this kid again. His earlier encounter with Kurokami had left an impression, though not a favorable one. Kuro had challenged him before, and despite the clear outcome, the boy showed no signs of learning his lesson. He was persistent—annoyingly so.
Before Endeavor could respond, Fuyumi came running, red-faced and out of breath. She grabbed Kuro by the arm and yanked him away from the door, giving her father an apologetic look.
"I'm so sorry, Father! He keeps sneaking around to ask for a fight. I'll take care of it!" she promised, trying to drag Kuro back inside.
Kuro, however, was not so easily deterred. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he reached out and tickled Fuyumi's side, catching her completely off guard. She squeaked and dropped him, rushing backward in embarrassment and leaving Kuro to stand triumphantly before Endeavor once again.
The No. 2 Hero exhaled a heavy sigh of exasperation, his patience worn thin. He could tell that Kuro wasn't going to leave him alone until he got what he wanted.
"Fine," Endeavor growled, his deep voice rumbling. "You want to fight? Let's get this over with. I'll teach you not to waste my time."
Back in the courtyard, the atmosphere was tense. Fuyumi, though she knew how these things usually went, couldn't help but watch from the sidelines, her heart in her throat.
She wrung her hands together nervously, her eyes darting between her father and Kurokami. She had tried to stop him—she really had—but nothing seemed to deter Kuro once he had his mind set on something.
Endeavor, towering over Kuro, stood with his arms crossed, his flame-licked aura radiating power. Kuro, meanwhile, was bouncing on his feet, eyes wide with enthusiasm, seemingly unfazed by the fiery giant in front of him.
Fuyumi silently prayed that her father would at least hold back this time, but knowing Endeavor, restraint wasn't something he practiced often. Her father was infamous for his brutal training sessions, especially with Shoto. Seeing him face off against Kuro, she feared for the worst.
Without warning, Endeavor lunged forward with incredible speed, flames roaring to life around his fists. He wasn't going to waste time toying with the boy—he'd end this quickly, just enough to knock some sense into him.
Kuro's eyes sparkled as he ducked under the first flaming punch, feeling the heat brush past him as he narrowly avoided being scorched. He was fast—but Endeavor was faster. Kuro leaped backward, his Ki pulsing around him as he used his quirk to try and push back against Endeavor's onslaught.
Fuyumi gasped, her eyes wide as the battle unfolded before her. Each movement from her father was precise, powerful, and unrelenting.
The flames surrounding him intensified with each step, his strikes swift and lethal. Kuro, however, met every attack with his own wild and unpredictable style, his Ki giving him an extra edge as he darted around the courtyard.
Endeavor growled in frustration as Kuro managed to dodge yet another blow, but he could tell the boy was already starting to wear down. It was only a matter of time.
"You're reckless, boy," Endeavor snapped as he prepared another flame-fueled strike. "You should've learned your lesson the first time."
Kuro, panting heavily, grinned despite the exhaustion creeping up on him. "Lesson? I don't need a lesson—I just need to get stronger!"
With a final burst of energy, Kuro focused his Ki into his fists, ready to charge at Endeavor once more. His body was aching from the impacts he had endured, but his determination kept him going. He knew he couldn't win, but winning wasn't the point. Pushing his limits was.
Endeavor's flames roared as he prepared to finish the fight. With one swift motion, he aimed a powerful punch at Kuro, who met it head-on with his Ki-infused strike.
The clash sent a shockwave through the courtyard, dust, and embers flying as the two forces collided. For a brief moment, it seemed as though Kuro had managed to hold his ground, but the overwhelming power of Endeavor's quirk quickly overpowered him.
Kuro was sent flying backward, skidding across the courtyard and crashing into the far wall. The impact knocked the wind out of him, and he slumped to the ground, groaning in pain.
Fuyumi's hands flew to her mouth as she watched in horror. "Kuro!"
Endeavor lowered his fists, the flames around him gradually dissipating. He glanced at Kuro, who was struggling to push himself up from the ground, his body battered and bruised.
"Stay down, boy," Endeavor commanded, his voice low and stern. "You've lost."
Kuro, stubborn as ever, coughed and wiped the blood from his mouth. Despite the pain, he smiled, his eyes still full of that same fire. "Nah... I can still go..."
Endeavor's eyes narrowed. This boy...he was ridiculous.
...
Kuro stood, wiping the blood from his lip with the back of his hand, his legs shaky but unwavering. His body screamed in pain, but his spirit, as usual, seemed completely unfazed. The bruises, the cuts, the burns—none of it seemed to dampen his enthusiasm. He clenched his fists, ready to charge back into the fray.
Endeavor, who had been watching Kuro with a mix of annoyance and curiosity, couldn't help but ask, "Why? Why keep coming back for more? You should hate me by now. After what I've done to you... I've beaten you senseless, left you for dead in the dirt. Why aren't you angry?"
Kuro looked at him, genuinely confused. "Hate you?" he asked, tilting his head like a confused puppy. "You want me to hate you? Why? We're training, right?"
Endeavor raised an eyebrow. This kid... He was utterly bizarre.
Kuro, oblivious to the tension in Endeavor's voice, continued, "That last fight was a tie anyway. You left before I gave up, so we're even. Now we're training. Simple as that!"
A strange silence fell between them, broken only by the crackling of the embers from Endeavor's flames. Fuyumi, watching from the sidelines, felt her chest tighten. She was caught between awe at Kuro's determination and worry over his safety.
Endeavor stared at Kuro for a moment longer before something unexpected happened—he laughed. It wasn't the cruel, bitter laughter that Shoto had grown used to over the years, but a genuine, amused chuckle. "You... You really are something, kid," he said.
This boy wasn't like anyone Endeavor had ever met. He didn't even consider hating him, despite everything. It was as if Kuro's brain didn't even operate on the same wavelength as others. He wasn't bitter, angry, or even looking for revenge. No, Kuro was just happy to be standing, and happier still to be learning something in the process.
"You're an idiot, you know that?" Endeavor said, still chuckling. "You haven't even thought of hating me, just because I'm letting you spar with me."
Kuro smiled brightly, completely missing the sarcasm, as if Endeavor's words were the highest praise. "Thanks!"
Endeavor watched, more intrigued now than annoyed. There was something raw about this kid—stupid, yes, but undeniably relentless. Maybe that's what made him so interesting.
Without warning, Kuro refocused his Ki, the purple energy surrounding him in an almost protective aura. He narrowed his eyes in concentration, and suddenly, his body began to lift off the ground. He wasn't flying exactly—more like floating. It was slow and awkward, but it was progress.
The effort of floating while focusing his Ki made his muscles strain and tremble, but Kuro didn't care. His face lit up in triumph as if he'd just discovered a new superpower.
"Look, I'm doing it!" he yelled excitedly, wobbling in the air like a newborn bird trying to fly.
Endeavor couldn't help but smirk. This kid was defying gravity through sheer willpower, even if it was slow as a snail.
Kuro's grin widened. "Now... I just have to master dodging attacks while doing this!" Without hesitation, he charged at Endeavor once more, floating ever so slowly toward the hulking hero, his fists cocked back for another round.
Fuyumi, watching from a distance, couldn't believe what she was seeing. "Is... is this kid just stupid?" she muttered to herself. "He's enjoying this? Getting beaten senseless by the No. 2 Hero, and he's smiling like he's won a lottery..."
She watched as Kuro charged at Endeavor again, fully knowing what would happen next. There was no way anyone, let alone a UA student, should be able to enjoy what looked less like training and more like a brutal beating. Yet, there he was, with that ridiculous grin on his face, charging headfirst into another thrashing.
Endeavor, now taking Kuro somewhat seriously, waited for him to get within range before launching another fire-infused punch. Kuro barely dodged it this time, his slow floating form jerking to the side just in time to avoid a full hit.
"Not bad," Endeavor muttered under his breath, impressed by the kid's reflexes.
Kuro spun around, using his momentum to land a solid kick on Endeavor's arm. The hit was more symbolic than painful, but the fact that Kuro managed to land it at all made him beam with pride.
"See? I'm getting better!"
Endeavor, unfazed, simply swept Kuro's legs out from under him with one swift motion, sending him crashing back to the ground. But true to form, Kuro bounced right back up, groaning but grinning.
"I can do this all day!"
Fuyumi couldn't help but shake her head in disbelief. "How can someone have this much... energy? He should be out cold by now."
But to Kuro, this was the best day ever. Every bruise, every hit, was a lesson. Every punch was progress.
Twenty minutes had passed, and as expected, Kuro lost again. His body was bruised and beaten, his limbs were sore, and his breathing was labored, yet he remained unwavering in his attitude. He sat still as Fuyumi carefully bandaged his injuries, smacking his hand away every time he tried to remove one of the bandages out of impatience.
"Stop that, Kuro," she scolded, not for the first time, while pulling his hand away from a fresh wrap on his forearm.
Kuro blinked at her, confused as to why she was stopping him from 'helping.' Fuyumi couldn't help but sigh and wonder aloud, "What is it that drives you, Kuro? What's your dream? What reason could possibly make you try this hard?"
Kuro blinked, her question hanging in the air. He thought for a moment, searching his mind, but nothing came up. There wasn't a grand, elaborate reason that fueled him. No burning desire or noble dream that guided his path.
"I don't have one," Kuro finally said, almost nonchalantly. "I guess... I'm just hoping to become a hero."
Fuyumi raised an eyebrow, surprised by the answer. "That's it? No dream of becoming the No. 1 hero or changing the world?"
Kuro shook his head. "Nah, not really. I'm just becoming a hero because my friends are. And I wanna fight with them and against them, so... I'm going to be a hero too."
Fuyumi paused for a moment, her fingers still working on the bandage. Kuro's answer was simple, almost too simple. It made her wonder—was this truly all that motivated him? Was the entire basis of his drive just to fight?
"Is fighting all you want, Kuro?" Fuyumi asked, looking him in the eyes. "Is that all that motivates you?"
Kuro tilted his head, considering the question. "Not really... I do like saving people. I like making them happy. Not for any real reason, I just... like the happy part of it."
Fuyumi stopped bandaging him for a moment, her fingers lingering on the wrap as she processed his words. She looked up at Kuro, curious. "Do you know what a fairy tale is, Kuro?"
Kuro shook his head. "Nope."
Fuyumi smiled softly, thinking at first that Kuro must be joking. "A fairy tale is... well, it's a story where everything ends in happiness. The hero saves the day, everyone smiles, and everything goes back to the way it should be. Doing things just to make everyone happy, like what you said... that's kind of like a fairy tale ending."
Kuro thought about that for a moment, his expression blank but his eyes showing a glimmer of interest. "Is that bad?"
Fuyumi shook her head, her smile growing. "No, it's not bad at all. It's a great goal. Wanting people to be happy is a wonderful thing."
Kuro seemed to consider this for a while, sitting still and pondering her words while Fuyumi tied off the last bandage. She looked at him, still puzzled by the enigma that was Kurokami Tenshin.
His will was something beyond what she had ever seen. Most people, after facing her father once, would be done for a long time—if not for good. But Kuro kept coming back, smiling and asking for more.
And yet, for someone with such raw determination and an almost godlike will to keep going, his motivation seemed so simple. She wondered, would Kuro really be satisfied with just making people happy? Would someone like him, with an almost obsessive drive, ever truly be content with something so... ordinary?
As she finished up, Fuyumi asked quietly, more to herself than to Kuro, "Will that be enough for you? Will you be happy with just making people smile?"
Kuro, oblivious to the depth of her question, grinned and shrugged, wincing a little as the movement pulled at his bandages. "I dunno. But if I'm not, I'll just keep going until I find what makes me happy too."
Fuyumi smiled at his simplicity. It was admirable, in a way—Kuro's unwavering ability to just keep going, to push forward no matter what. But she still couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more waiting for Kuro. Something bigger than even he realized.
For now, though, she simply said, "Just don't push yourself too hard. You're not invincible, you know."
Kuro smiled his usual bright smile. "We'll see about that."
Fuyumi couldn't help but laugh lightly, shaking her head at his response. Even after everything, Kuro's boundless optimism never wavered