Aero (a BNHA OC story)

Chapter 44

Kenzo nodded his thanks and stepped into the Todoroki household, his heart racing with anticipation. Entering the living room, Kenzo found Fuyumi sitting on the couch, engrossed in a book. Her face lit up with a bright smile as she looked up and caught sight of him standing in the doorway.

"Kenzo! What a surprise," Fuyumi exclaimed, setting her book aside and rising to her feet. "What brings you here?"

Kenzo felt his cheeks flush slightly at the sight of her warm smile, his heart skipping a beat at the sound of her voice. "I, uh, brought you these," he stammered, holding out the bouquet of tulips toward her.

Fuyumi's eyes widened in delight as she accepted the flowers, her smile growing even brighter. "Oh, Kenzo, they're beautiful," she said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation. "Thank you so much."

"It's no problem," Kenzo replied, his own smile widening at the sight of her happiness. "They reminded me of you."

Fuyumi's cheeks flushed pink at the compliment, and she ducked her head shyly. "That's very sweet of you, Kenzo," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

As Kenzo and Fuyumi shared their moment, a mock gagging noise pierced the tranquillity, disrupting their exchange of smiles. They both turned to find Shoto standing in the doorway, a blend of annoyance and amusement etched across his face.

"Shoto!" Fuyumi chided, shooting her brother a playful glare. "Don't be rude."

Shoto's lips twitched into a faint smile as he folded his arms across his chest. "Sorry, couldn't resist," he admitted, his tone light. "But seriously, Mr. Ikari, what's with the sudden break from hero duties? It's all over Twitter."

Kenzo took a deep breath, his gaze shifting between Fuyumi and Shoto. Despite the weight of the situation, he maintained an optimistic demeanour, determined not to let his temporary setback overshadow the moment.

"Well, you see," Kenzo began, his voice steady, deciding he could trust the duo to keep a secret, "I've actually taken a break from hero duties because I... lost my quirk temporarily."

Fuyumi's eyes widened in concern, her hand instinctively reaching out to grasp Kenzo's. "Oh, Kenzo, I'm so sorry to hear that," she said softly, her voice filled with sympathy.

Shoto's expression shifted from amusement to shock in an instant. "You... lost your quirk?" he repeated, disbelief colouring his tone. "So who's going to teach us combat?"

Kenzo offered the younger Todoroki a reassuring smile. "It's only temporary, Shoto," he explained, his tone reassuring. "Recovery Girl said it should come back eventually. Until then, I'm just gonna have to wait."

Fuyumi nodded in understanding, her concern evident in her eyes. "Well, if there's anything we can do to help, just let us know," she offered, her voice warm.

Kenzo felt a surge of gratitude toward the Todoroki siblings. Despite the unexpected turn of events, their unwavering support provided him with a sense of comfort and reassurance. "Thanks guys," he said sincerely, his smile genuine.

Kenzo's phone buzzed in his pocket, and he glanced at the screen to see Madam President's name flashing. With a sigh, he excused himself from the Todoroki siblings and stepped into the hallway to take the call.

"Hello, Madam President," Kenzo greeted, trying to keep his tone calm despite the tension in the air.

"Kenzo, what the hell is going on?" Madam President's voice crackled with barely contained frustration. "You can't just take a break right now! Villain activity is at an all-time high! We need all the heroes we can get!"