Chapter 22: Shadows of Support
The evening settled over Musutafu in a soft purple haze. Streetlights flickered on as Izuku Midoriya stretched out on the couch. He clicked grip trainers rhythmically in his hands. Inko bustled in the kitchen. The sizzle of katsu filled the air with a familiar warmth. A sharp knock at the door jolted them both. The sound was unexpected and insistent. Inko peeked out and then gasped. She flung the door wide. "Hisashi?!" she exclaimed.
There stood Hisashi Midoriya. He held a suitcase in hand and wore a sharp navy suit. His bright smile cut through the dim light. "Surprise!" he boomed. He stepped inside and swept Inko into a hug. Her squeal muffled against his chest. Izuku dropped the grippers and stood quickly. A grin tugged at his lips. He thought to himself, 'Dad showed up out of nowhere? This is a shock, but it feels good too. It's been forever since I last saw him.'
"Hisashi, you didn't say anything!" Inko said. She pulled back with misty eyes. "When did you arrive? How long are you staying?"
"I got a break and flew in today," Hisashi replied. He set his bag down. "I couldn't miss hearing about my kid's big shot at U.A.! How's my crew holding up?" He turned to Izuku and clapped him on the shoulder. The grip was strong and steady, a father's touch after years abroad.
"It's good to see you, Dad," Izuku said. He met Hisashi's gaze. "I didn't expect you. I thought you were stuck overseas." In his mind, he wondered, 'Work has kept him gone for most of my life. Now he's here. Why did he choose this moment?'
Dinner came together quickly. Inko piled katsu, rice, and miso soup on the table. Hisashi shed his jacket and joined them. The room glowed with rare togetherness. Chopsticks clacked as they dug in. Hisashi leaned forward. His eyes glinted with pride. "So, Izuku, tell me about the U.A. exam," he said. His voice was warm but carried a probing edge. "I heard it's was a beast. How did it go? Did those robots give you any trouble?"
Izuku swallowed a bite and smirked faintly. "No, I handled them fine," he said. He kept his answer vague. "They were big metal things, fast but predictable. I took them down one by one and kept moving." He thought to himself, 'He's fishing for details. This isn't just small talk. He's really curious about it.'
Inko beamed and sipped her soup. "He's been training so hard, Hisashi. He works on his fire and telekinesis every day! I bet he was amazing out there," she said.
"I bet he was," Hisashi replied with a grin. "How did you use them, Izuku? Did you mix the fire and telekinesis, or did you rely on one at a time?" His tone stayed light, but his eyes sharpened. He seemed to piece something together.
Izuku paused. His chopsticks hovered over his plate. "I mixed them," he said slowly and deliberately. "I used fire to move quickly and telekinesis to toss the bots around. It worked smoothly and caught them off guard." He thought, 'He's digging deeper now. He knows more than a random dad should. How does he understand this so well?'
Hisashi nodded and chewed thoughtfully. "That's smart. Dual Quirks like that give you options. The robots are tough. U.A. has ramped up the challenge lately. There are more applicants and tighter cuts. It's competitive as hell now. Did you feel good about it, though? Are you confident you nailed it?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm pretty confident," Izuku said. He leaned back in his chair. "I did what I could, pushed hard, and stayed sharp. The results will show how it went." He observed Hisashi closely and thought, 'He's too sharp with this. He said 'ramped up lately.' How does he know U.A.'s trends? He's been gone for years, but he talks like he's still in the loop.'
Inko chimed in and clasped her hands. "He's been so focused, Hisashi. He trains non-stop! I told him to rest, but he's set on U.A. I'm so proud. He's your son, alright!" she said.
"Damn right he is," Hisashi laughed. His gaze lingered on Izuku. "It sounds like you owned it. Fire is tricky to wield, but you've got my spark. Telekinesis on top? That's a killer edge. U.A. is picky, but you've got the stuff." He sipped his soup and then added casually, "I ran into some hero scene folks back in Japan a while ago. They were old contacts. They say U.A. is the gold standard now and gets tougher every year."
Izuku's chopsticks stilled. His mind snagged on those words. He thought, 'Old contacts? Hero scene? What does that mean?' He kept his tone light and said, "Contacts, huh? I didn't know you were plugged in like that. I thought you were all business overseas."
Hisashi waved it off with a grin. "It's just chatter. I picked up bits here and there. Work keeps me moving, but I've got ears in places. My point is, Izuku, results or not, I've got your back. U.A. is the dream, but if it doesn't pan out, I can open doors. There are other paths to hero work. You're not alone in this, Both of you could move to America." he said.
"Thanks, Dad," Izuku replied. His voice was firm. "I appreciate it, but I'm getting in on my own. No shortcuts. It's my merit, my shot." He thought, 'He's connected somehow. How deep does it go? It doesn't matter. I'm proving myself without any help.'
Inko reached over and squeezed Hisashi's hand. "He's stubborn like you and he won't budge! But it's so good you're here. Stay a while, please?" she said.
"I planned on it," Hisashi replied. He kissed her knuckles, making her blush. "I'll stay a month at least to catch up with my favorite people. Izuku's on the cusp. I want to see this through with him." He turned back to Izuku with a smile. "Keep training. Whatever happens, you're a Midoriya. We don't quit."
"Never," Izuku said. He matched Hisashi's grin, though questions churned beneath the surface. He thought, 'He's proud, and it's genuine, but there's more to this. He's hiding something. Work isn't just suits and deals.'
Dinner wound down, and they cleared the plates. Inko chattered about old photos she'd dug up. Hisashi stayed animated, sharing stories of New York and laughing with Inko. Izuku watched quietly now, piecing it all together. He thought, 'He's been absent most of my life. He shows up now and knows U.A.'s game. It's too convenient.' The pride was real, and the support felt solid, but that hint of insider knowledge gnawed at him.
Later, Izuku lay in bed. The room was dark, and the hum of the house settled around him. Hisashi's voice echoed in his mind: 'Old contacts… tougher every year…' He stared at the ceiling, restless. He wondered, 'What's his deal? He's been overseas all this time. Business, sure, but heroes? He's brushed the scene, maybe more than brushed it. Is he a pro? An agent? Something else?' The thought twisted like a puzzle missing edges. He rolled onto his side and continued, 'He's been gone forever. This is the first time I'm really seeing him, and he's a mystery. What kind of life has he been living out there?'
He clenched a fist. Fire flickered briefly in his palm, forming a tight ring before he snuffed it out quickly. He thought, 'It doesn't change a thing. He's here, he's proud and that's cool. But U.A. is mine. When the results come, I'll show I earned it. No doors, no strings, just me.' A mix of emotions churned inside him: gratitude for Hisashi's return, curiosity about his secrets, and determination to stand alone. He vowed silently, 'Top hero is the goal. Dad or not, I'm carving my own path.' His eyes drifted shut as resolve steeled within him.