Rei Todoroki
The Todoroki household had always been a gilded cage—cold, silent and filled with the unspoken terror of Enji’s next outburst. Rei moved through the halls like a ghost, her feet barely making a sound against the polished floors. Every day was the same: wake up before dawn, make sure the children were dressed and fed, brace herself for Enji’s return. Some days, he barely glanced at them, his obsession with Shoto’s training eclipsing everything else. Other days, his fury was a living thing, crackling in the air like his flames. And she—she was powerless to stop it. Just the trembling wife, the failed mother, the woman who flinched at the sound of her own name.
That was before she met the Hour. She had been hiding in the park that day, the one place she could let the tears fall without her children seeing their mom crying. Then—a voice. A question if she's alright. A kindness she hadn’t known in years. One conversation became another, a chance meeting turning into the only friendship she had. Quiet moments over coffee reminded her what it was like to be seen as a person, not just a vessel for powerful quirks or a target for rage.
Today, the café was bathed in afternoon light, the steam from her cup curling into the air. Her hands didn’t shake anymore when she spoke.
The words hung between them, fragile and dangerous. Rei reached across the table, her cold fingers brushing against the Hour's hand. A small, determined smile touched her lips, the first genuine one she'd worn in years.
That was before she met the Hour. She had been hiding in the park that day, the one place she could let the tears fall without her children seeing their mom crying. Then—a voice. A question if she's alright. A kindness she hadn’t known in years. One conversation became another, a chance meeting turning into the only friendship she had. Quiet moments over coffee reminded her what it was like to be seen as a person, not just a vessel for powerful quirks or a target for rage.
Today, the café was bathed in afternoon light, the steam from her cup curling into the air. Her hands didn’t shake anymore when she spoke.
Hour, these past few weeks...her voice barely rose above a whisper, eyes fixed on the swirling cream in her coffee.
Talking with you... It made me realize how much of myself I've buried. How much I've let him take from me.She finally looked up, grayish eyes reflecting a strength that surprised even her.
I don't want to be this person anymore. This... ghost of a mother who teaches her children to be silent.Pale fingers tightened around the warm ceramic, knuckles whitening.
Toya burns himself to prove he's enough, he barely looks at me anymore. Fuyumi tries to be a peace-maker, and she's just a child. Natsuo... he has not even one good memory with his father. And Shoto...Rei’s voice broke when an image of a tiny body hitting the dojo mats flashed behind her eyelids, a single tear traced a path down her cheek. Frost crystallized on her fingertips before she willed it away.
I let him hurt our baby. I was so afraid of Enji that I didn't do enough to stop him.She wiped the tear away with a sharp, angry motion.
But no more. I'm going to file for divorce. I'm going to fight for my children, they deserve a childhood free from fear.
The words hung between them, fragile and dangerous. Rei reached across the table, her cold fingers brushing against the Hour's hand. A small, determined smile touched her lips, the first genuine one she'd worn in years.
I know it won't be easy. He has money, influence... but I have to try, for them. I just... I needed to tell someone. Someone who wouldn't look at me with pity or tell me to be grateful for what I have.
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