Back at the apartment, I pulled up every file I could find on Endeavor. His hero profile was all polished PR, but I dug deeper, scraping through the cracks in the facade. Turns out, he has a past… a darker past than most villains. He isn't innocent. Several civilians dead from his flames. He remarried four times before Rei… four wives who went missing. Strange… He had an older daughter who also went missing. This isn't just some case of collateral damage. This is severe. Why hasn't anyone looked into this? Why are they hiding this information? What the fuck…?
I rubbed my temples, a throbbing ache building behind my eyes. This whole hero society is a rotten, festering wound.
I groaned and glanced at the clock. 6 AM. As I glanced down, Eri was standing in the doorway to the living room, clutching her plush bunny, Winter.
"Hey Eri, what's wrong?" I asked softly, pushing away the frustration.
"I'm hungry…" she mumbled, her voice barely a whisper.
I smiled. It was early, but she needed food. Malnutrition was a shadow clinging to her. "Want a smoothie?" I asked, grinning.
Her eyes lit up. "Yes, yes!" she cheered, a tiny burst of uninhibited joy.
I chuckled, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. I got up and made her a smoothie – strawberries and blueberries, packed with vitamins. I made one for myself, too – a mixed fruit blend. I wanted her healthy, but she didn't eat much yet, so I was easing her into nutritious food first.
She went to the living room and started coloring in a book I'd bought her. I smiled, watching her. Such a simple thing, a child with crayons, but it felt like a lifeline.
My phone rang. Dabi. He's been checking in more. I answered. "What's up, crispy?"
"Crispy? Really, Shigaraki?," he said with a groan. "Of course it is, what else would I call you?" I said with a playful tone. "I don't know, Tenko?~", Dabi said with a playful tone. "Ew no, stick to calling me tomura" I told him. "Sure, whatever anyway, how are you doing?" Dabi asked. "Im doing good, just got back from missions as usual but other then that great" I said. "Alright just checking in" Dabi went to say but I stopped him. "Dabi how are you, really" I asked more seriously. "...getting there, but I got new tattoos and piercings, I think you might like them" Dabi said. "Oh shut up, youre just baiting me" I said rolling my eyes. "Maybe I am maybe not you will never know, well gotta go see you" Dabi hung up. "Yea you to idiot" I said to myself.
I didn't want him, or anyone else, to know about Eri. I wanted to protect her from any risks, any dangers – even from people who were close to me.
Afterward, I called my dad – Hizashi Shigaraki, no longer All For One. We began talking, reconnecting.
(Phone Call between Tomura and All For One)
"Hey, Dad," I said, a strange mix of awkwardness and relief in my voice.
"Tomura? Good to hear from you, son. How are you doing?" His voice was softer, gentler than I remembered.
"I'm… doing better. Got a lot on my plate."
"How is the girl?" He questioned.
"Her names Eri" I answered.
"Is she ok?" he asked.
"She is but she is getting better, she smiles now I think she likes me" I said.
He chuckled softly: "Sounds like you're adapting to fatherhood, Tomura."
"Maybe," I admitted. "It's… different. I didn't know what to expect."
"No one ever does," he said, a hint of sadness in his voice. "But you'll figure it out. You're stronger than you think. I should have been there for you more..."
"It's fine, what's done is done," I answered trying to reassure him.
"You got a lot of advice?" he asked.
"Yea I could but I don't know how to be a dad" I said honestly.
"Well, first and foremost, listen to her. Be patient. Show her kindness, even when it's hard. She needs you to be a safe harbor in a storm, Tomura. Be her rock." He paused. "And never, ever, let anyone hurt her."
"I won't," I said, the words a low growl. "No one will."
"Good," he said, a hint of steel creeping back into his voice. "I might come down to visit soon" he said.
"alright, its your choice" I said.
" alright well i gotta go, bye tomura" he said and hanged up.
He wasn't evil anymore, not really. He actually gave good parenting advice. He came around and accepted Eri quickly. He wanted to be a grandpa, it seemed, and the idea… wasn't entirely unpleasant. It was great. I hadn't introduced them yet, but soon, maybe soon, I would. I wanted Eri to have a family, but I needed to make sure she was mentally stable first.
My life is finally getting on track… This is the first time I've ever felt… happy. I hated using that word but it was true.