The atmosphere was thick with tension in the Todoroki household, dimly lit and charged with an electric silence. Dabi sat his father, Enji Todoroki, in front of the television, a look of intense anticipation in his eyes. Beside him sat Shoto and Natsuo, the latter trying to mask his unease with an air of stoic indifference.
"Just watch," Dabi said, hitting play on the remote.
The screen flickered to life, revealing a video they had recorded just hours prior. It showed Enji in a compromising situation with another woman, framed in what could only be described as blatant betrayal. Dabi leaned forward, relishing the way his father's brow furrowed with confusion that quickly transformed into outrage. The silence in the room was deafening until Enji finally found his voice.
"How dare you record this! You had no right to invade my privacy!" he sputtered, his face a mix of shock and anger.
Dabi didn't flinch. "You think we had no right? You're the one who crossed a line, old man. Cheating on Mom? How could you betray her like this?"
Natsuo and Shoto shared a glance, the weight of the moment causing their hearts to race. Engulfed by an oppressive sense of anger and disappointment, they mirrored Dabi's rage. The door swung open, revealing Rei and Fuyumi, who hurried away to Fuyumi's room, with Rei clutching her heart in distress after witnessing the raw betrayal. The sound of muffled sobs echoed down the hallway, but Dabi's focus remained firmly on Enji.
Suddenly, Enji's phone vibrated incessantly on the coffee table, drawing their attention. Dabi and Shoto leaned in closer, their tension momentarily shifting to curiosity. With each chime, Enji's face paled; the notifications spewed forth messages from pro heroes, family members, and close friends, all expressing their outrage over his infidelity. But it was the texts from the League of Villains that sent a shiver down Dabi's spine—Toga's lighthearted taunt, Twice's sarcastic comments, Mr. Compress's bemused observations, and Shigaraki's merciless critique.
"What is this?" Enji stammered, fumbling for the phone. His fingers trembled as he opened each message, disbelief painting his features.
"Seems like you wanted attention, and congratulations, Dad. You've got it," Dabi laughed, satisfaction dancing in his eyes as the news started broadcasting on television. "'Number One Hero Caught in Infidelity Scandal!' They aren't even sugarcoating it."
The news anchors' voices droned on in the background, dissecting the story piece by piece while Enji's hands balled into fists at his sides. He felt trapped, his chest constricting under their gaze.
"As if the world needed another reason to hate you," Dabi added, amusement threading his words. The tension in the room ignited further as the distant sound of footsteps heralded the arrival of unexpected guests—angry neighbors, old friends, and casual acquaintances, all gathered outside, demanding answers.
The doorbell rang, breaking the fraught silence. Shoto's smirk widened as he opened the door to reveal Ryan, Enji's old best friend. Ryan's expression was a tempest of fury and disappointment, memories of long-suppressed feelings for Rei bubbled to the surface as he stepped inside.
Without a word, he stormed past Enji, heading straight to the guest room where Rei sought refuge. Enji's heart sank, realizing he was about to face the repercussions of his actions.
"Good luck explaining this," Shoto said, shoving Enji toward the door with unexpected force. "You've earned the crowd's wrath."
Enji stumbled out, facing the howling mob, a stark contrast to his former life as a revered hero. He could hear snippets of furious accusations, questions brimming with disdain, and he instinctively straightened as he prepared to defend himself.
But as the reality of the situation sunk in, Enji discovered that words had abandoned him. All he could hear was the sound of roaring anger echoing inside and out, the consequences of his choices laying bare before him like a gaping wound.
Dabi stood behind the door, arms crossed, an unsettling grin stretched across his face. "Welcome to your downfall, old man. Let the chaos begin."