Light pollution stretched far up into the sky as the city down below bustled with activity long into the evening. It was the first week of November, the beginnings of winter were starting to show in the air. When Fuyumi breathed out it came as puffs of smoke. Around her people were bundled in their scarves and winter coats already. Long padded jackets seem to be in this year, not that she understood why.

Fuyumi on the other hand, loved the cold, and she certainly dressed like she did. People looked at her like she was nuts, wearing the sleeves of her sport coat rolled up.

She walked with a purpose. She did not come to Tokyo often but when she did she hated it. It was so busy and impossible to walk through at any hour of the day. Turning into a slightly less crowded side street, Fuyumi began to count the numbers of the buildings off.

“This place is always so hard to find,” she mumbled. She checked her map app, making sure she was in the right place. The destination was on her right, illuminated barely by a coloured blue bulb at the front. How was anybody supposed to trust this place? She wondered. It’s only because her coworker went so many times that she decided to visit as well.

This would be her 3rd time coming back but she couldn’t help it. When she knocked on the door it swung open almost immediately, like it was falling off its hinges.

“Ah Ms. Todoroki I was expecting you. Though it’s odd, you don’t usually schedule such a late session,” said an old woman who stood in the foyer. She was in her mid 60s, and looked sort of like a witch. Her long nose had a prominent hook, and her fingers were bony and crooked. The most noticeable trait, however, were the bright blue veins that showed through her translucent skin, running from the tips of her fingers, up her arms and to her temples—a marker of her quirk.

“I’m sorry it was just so spontaneous and this was the only time I could make.” Fuyumi bowed. With all that’s been happening, the need to come here became greater and greater. Her father had recently become Number One and had made the effort to approach her more and more. He spoke more at dinner, and asked her about her work. And although Shouto wasn’t home often anymore because of the dorm system, he wrote to their mother as much as he could, and successfully sustained conversations when Fuyumi called. Natsuo selectively chose not to be at home as much as possible, but he made an effort to free his schedule when Shouto was allowed to leave the campus.

And her mother. Once her mother made peace with her inner turmoil about Shouto, she began to smile again. It was beyond what she could ever ask for.

Everything this year was a whirlwind of excitement for Fuyumi. She started to think that maybe her family could be whole and proper, like she always wanted it to be.

Those thoughts plagued her every minute of every day. It drove her up the wall. Yet even with all this progress, Fuyumi could not help but get even lonelier. Her need for the company of a family fosters deep within her at her loneliest points—where the abode is quiet, and no one responds when she announces that she’s home. This prompted her to start seeing this witchy old woman in the back streets of Tokyo.

This woman was a Visionist. It was something of a newer profession since the rise of quirks. Back in the day any one who called themselves a Visionist was likely a fraud. Not anymore. Those whose quirks dealt with illusions and dreams entered this field. Paying customers would be put into a deep sleep during their session, where their minds are induced with customised fantasies of their choosing. Provided that they can afford it of course.

“Your requests are becoming more and more specific, eh?” The Visionist said. Her crooked witch hands glided across a tablet. When Fuyumi booked the appointment she sent in the written specifications along with images she wanted included in her dream session.

“Alright we don’t have all day child. Up on the bed you go!” The Visionist pushed Fuyumi towards the elevated platform where the dream sequences take place. The old lady’s enormous hair bun added about two thirds of a foot to her height yet still she dwarfed in comparison to the young teacher. For a woman so small, she was deceivingly strong.

Fuyumi lay still as the Visionist hooked up pads to her temples and sealed her eyes. Don’t want them opening during sequence—images of the dreams and the real world would overlap.

“Alright if you’re ready I’ll go ahead.” Fuyumi nodded and the machines whirled to life, powered by the witch’s quirk. From the Visionist’s temples came a glow. Blue light traveled down the marks in her skin and into the devices that were plugged into the girl’s head.

---

Fuyumi’s conscience faded. Her mind swirled for a good minute before she felt like a light switch had gone off in her head.

She opened her eyes and was met with the high ceilings of her room at home. She sat up, staring. They were higher than usual. Her turquoise eyes searched the room as she tried to get her bearings. Everything is as it was in a sense, except there were much more toys and a whole lot more photos than before.

She scrambled up from her futon, which was pink with butterflies—a pattern she hasn’t seen in over a decade. The pictures on the wall were strung up by clothes pins and surrounded by fairy lights. Photographs of birthdays and family trips and everything in between. A larger photo sat framed on her dresser. Fuyumi picked it up and examined it. She didn’t recall ever taking this photo but it looked recent. Her eyes started to water as she counted the smiling faces. One, two, three, four…five…and six. Six people looked back at her all dressed in their swimwear as they sat on the deck of a cruise ship. A family vacation that never came to be.

Shouto was small, about three years old. No scar in sight. He sat nestled in their mother’s arms halfway in the pool water. Her mother…her mother looked so young and radiant. Her white hair had a beautiful sheen and her skin glowed with a dewey, slightly tanned complexion. Fuyumi has never seen her mother like that. The hospital stay made her look so dull and grey almost. Tears were trickling down her cheeks by now.

Natsuo stood in the dead centre of the photo, as he usually does. He puffed his chest out and flexed his arms in All Might’s signature pose. Fuyumi laughed out loud. He looked so ridiculous with oversized yellow arm floaties. Natsuo would be about six here. His white hair was still streaked with red like hers was.

Fuyumi traced the photo with her index finger. She saw her nine year old self perched high on her father’s shoulders to the right of the photo. He stood in the water with her mother and his frame looked massive next to everyone else. Fuyumi could see no fire, just a smile. Her picture self’s own face lit up atop her high view. This was before her vision started to go.

In the present it seemed her eyes were still good, because she didn’t need her glasses to see this. At the edge of the photo was a small red haired boy sitting cross legged on the deck, holding a hollowed out pineapple with a little parasol and a novelty crazy straw. The life jacket he wore made him look incredibly petite. His smile was serene and lazy in a way. Like herself and Shouto and their father, his eyes were a bright aqua blue.

“Touya…” she whispered. Tear droplets dotted the glass of the frame.

“You called little sissy?” Fuyumi shrieked, dropping the photo on the tatami mat. She hastily wiped her eyes with her sleeve. Touya stood in her doorway, his bed hair looking like a wild mass of fire.

“Touya! Don’t scare me like that,” she scolded. “Don’t you know not to go into a girl’s room uninvited!”

“Huh?” the tiny red head scratched his head. “But Fu don’t you know that you’re not a girl?” He cackled wildly and bolted down the hallway.

Fuyumi screeched, running after her brother like her quirk was in her legs. Her strides were longer than Touya’s, gaining on him like a cheetah ready to pounce. Touya made a move to round the next corner, but Fuyumi was quicker. She whipped her hand out in an upward arc right as he began to slow down. Ice coated the tatami mats under her toes and up the walls. The cold sting did not bother her one bit.

Touya yelped, losing his footing underneath the slippery ground, crashing headlong into the dragon scroll painting that hung in front of him.

“That isn’t fair!” Touya yelled. “Mom! Fuyumi iced the floors and made me fall!”

“Snitch!”

“Cheater!”

“You two!” came a booming voice. It resonated along the halls of the household. They both turned to see their father. To a child’s eye, the man stood to be around 12 feet tall. He was dressed in his commute clothes, ready for work. The familiar blue and red kevlar costume peaked out from underneath his suit.

He came to stand in front of them, steam rising from his feet. Fuyumi and Touya looked down and watched as the icy floor turned into a puddle, then evaporated entirely.

“What is the rule about quirks in the house?” He said evenly.

If Fuyumi was being honest, she didn’t know of any such rule. Growing up, she never used her quirk after her father deemed it no good to train so nobody said anything about it.

Touya knew though, “no quirk usage unless given special permission or we are supervised in the outdoor training ground.”

Her father nodded, “correct as always Touya. Now apologise to Fuyumi for provoking her.”

“But she s—”

“And Fuyumi, apologise to your brother for using your quirk on him.” His tone held an air of finality to it. She hasn’t been scolded like this is in…ever. Before she even knew what her face was doing, it split into a happy grin.

“What are you doing smiling, you weirdo, Dad’s yelling at us,” Touya mumbled.

“Touya.”

The twelve year old huffed, turning to look up at Fuyumi, “I’m sorry for making fun of you. What I said wasn’t true.”

Fuyumi’s grin grew ten times wider. Was Touya always this adorable? She laughed jovially, throwing her arms around her little big brother.

“H-hey sissy! Let go!”

“You’re so cute, Touya! And I’m sorry for making you slip and fall, so please forgive me because I want to play some more!” Fuyumi said, still laughing. Her father raised his eyebrow every so slightly, wondering what has suddenly gotten into his daughter.

“Play later. Your mother’s finished with breakfast so wash up and head to the dining room.”

Fuyumi saluted and dragged Touya off to the washroom. His protests fell on deaf ears.

---

The pair scrubbed their faces at the double vanity sinks in silence. Fuyumi hasn’t gotten ready in the morning with anyone in years. The last time she did was actually in another dream session of hers and that doesn’t count.

“What do you want to play today Fu?” Touya asked her. He towelled off his face then flung it back onto the rack. Fuyumi clicked her tongue in thought. The duo walked together down the hall towards the wafting smell of breakfast in the dining room. She could hear chattering voices. The rest of her family was already there.

“Let’s play what everyone wants to play,” she decided. Her big brother grunted.

“But Shou’s like three.” He complained.

“He’s our brother and if he wants to play we should let him! Aren’t you the big brother? Take care of us!” Fuyumi stamped her foot at him.

“Okay, okay sheesh we’ll all play together.” He said. They stepped into the dining room to be greeted by a chorus of good mornings.

“We were wondering if you two were ever going to come. Come sit. Natsu’s belly has been growling non-stop.”

“No it hasn’t Mommy you musn’t tell lies!” The woman’s laugh filled the room with a happy energy. Her father grinned as well but only slightly.

Fuyumi came to stare up at the woman she called mother. She was smiling softly, her white hair tied in a low ponytail. She gently nudged the two children towards the dining table where the rest of the family was seated.

The TV was playing the morning news. The one horned anchor reported about All Might’s recent exploits at the Kiyashi ward. A building caught fire during a roofing process when the tar ignited and the collapsed roof ensnared a handful of workers. Luckily, the reporter states, All Might arrived on scene in time.

Fuyumi peaked cautiously at her father to see his reaction. To her surprise he looked completely unbothered watching the TV, no sign of the the cold steely face he usually had. He caught her staring.

“Is something the matter, Fuyumi?” He asked. Everyone turned to look at her.

“Huh? No! No. I was just thinking that it sucks that heroes have to work even on Saturdays.” She gestured to his work attire. “No free time.” Ah. Nice save Fuyumi.

Her mother sighed dramatically, “your father works so much I wonder if maybe he should just move into the office. I guess this is what happens when you’re one of the top heroes in the country.” She giggled.

Shouto banged his training chopsticks on the table, “I want to be a top hero too! I want to save a billion people!” He made whooshing noises with his hands high in the air. Ice crept up his right arm while small flames burst from his left hairline. Fuyumi wracked her brain. Shouto looked about three and a half so his quirk must’ve only revealed itself a few months ago. He most definitely had no control over it.

A small hand pressed into Shouto’s icy shoulder. Little Natsuo shoved him down from his standing position.

“Quit it! Mommy said no quirks in the house.”

“I didn’t mean to!”

“Guys, stop it. You shouldn’t be arguing at breakfast,” Fuyumi said, but still the volume in the room continued to rise.

“Well I don’t want to be like All Might,” Touya said defiantly. He crossed his arms over his puffed out chest, “I want to be like Dad. I want to be the next Endeavour!”

“Dad uses orange flames like me, not blue,” Shouto said, jabbing his chopsticks in his big brother’s direction.

“It’s blue cause my flames are super hot!”

“What if I want to be the next Endeavour,” Natsuo demanded. Fuyumi rolled her eyes, refusing to join the fray. Her father caught her look and chuckled quietly to himself. Her mother glared at him, jamming her thumb at the squabbling brothers. He sighed.

“Endeavour is the Flame hero not the Ice hero, Natsu,” Touya said. Natsuo pouted.

“Well Dad is tall and strong and big bro is smaller than sissy so he can’t be the next Endeavour!” Touya’s mouth flopped open in disbelief.

“Alright, enough.” Her father’s voice boomed above the rest. Just like the incident earlier this morning, when he spoke he shut down every other noise in the vicinity. “Your sister’s right. We’re here to eat together not squabble.”

He didn’t look annoyed like Fuyumi usually saw him. This must be a common sight, here in this dream world. She beamed at his praise. Natsuo made a face at her, which caused her mother to click her tongue at him. He quickly shut his mouth.

“You will all be great heroes in your own right one day if you work hard at it,” her mother said gently yet firmly. That was the end of that. They all went back to eating in comfortable silence.

The watch around her father’s wrist beeped suddenly. Her mother hummed, passing him the car keys that were on the table. They exchanged a few quiet words between each other but Fuyumi couldn’t hear. Even so the soft conversation in and of itself warmed her heart. It was only in this dream world that she would allow herself to feel this way. To the chorus of good byes and see you laters from his children, her dad got up to leave for work.

“What do you want to play today?” Shouto asked, looking at Natsuo.

“I got a bunch of cardboard out of the recycling! Let’s make swords with them and play knights,” her little brother said. “Big bro can be the evil dragon!”

“What? I’m always the villain!” Touya frowned.

“You’re villain-like, big bro,” Shouto said between mouthfuls of rice.

“I am not! Mom, am I villain-like?” Touya looked up at his mother with round glassy turquoise eyes. Her mother laughed softly, reaching over to smooth Touya’s bangs away from his face.

“Baby, wanting to be a hero makes you the farthest from a villain. Don’t you know?” He smiled back at her. “Why don’t you all wash up and go make your swords and crowns, hm?”

Natsuo and Shouto cheered. They leapt up with their bowls and chopsticks clattering about. Fuyumi watched as Touya got up slowly to follow suit. Their voices traveled down the hallway and out of earshot.

Overwhelmed with how normal and whole her family was caused Fuyumi to start sniffling. She knew this feeling was coming. She knew that when she submitted pictures of all five of her family members that this is the vision she would get. But still she was overcome with a warm fiery ball of joy deep within her chest. She looked down at her lap. A couple of tears rolled down off her nose and it didn’t go unnoticed by her mother.

“Fu,” she looked up. “Do you not want to play with the boys? We can do something else just you and me.”

“No,” Fuyumi said. Her mother’s eyebrow raised. “I mean, I’ll play with my brothers today. They need a princess to save from the dragon right?”

“Right,” her mother said quietly. Her hand came up to wipe the stray tears away. “Such a good sister, Fu.”

---

Fuyumi skipped out of the dining room beaming. Her brothers were likely in the living room. She could see the trail of recycled garbage and office supplies that slipped out of their small arms. On the way over she stopped at her bedroom to grab her toy tiara and a frilly pink skirt. Princesses always wore dresses right?

Right as she arrived at the door to the living room came an explosion of shouts.

“I’m not putting that on!”

“You have to, you’re the dragon!”

“I should get to be the knight!”

“No, dragons breathe fire remember?”

“I don’t breathe fire Natsu!”

Fuyumi abruptly slid the door open with a slam. Shouto was minding his own business sitting on the floor in a blue and red cape, taping up a paper crown. She guffawed at the sight of the other two, pointing a shaky finger at them in her fit of laughter.

“Wha—what is this?! I’m—I can’t breathe!” She cried. Tears welled up in her vision and she hastily wiped them away to see the scene in front of her.

Natsuo, the big kid that he was, was holding Touya sideways like he was a rag doll. Touya was stuffed unceremoniously into Natsuo’s old black dragon costume from Halloween. His snarling head poked out of the dragon’s mouth like he was being eaten by it.

“Sissy don’t just stand there help me!” Natsuo said. He swung precariously with Touya’s added weight. The makeshift dragon in his arms flopped about, whining. Shouto hummed to himself, his three year old ears deaf to the chaos beside him.

Fuyumi could only laugh harder. She pulled the pink skirt over her shorts and slid the little gold tiara onto her head. Running over to Natsuo, she pull Touya from his arms and let him flop down onto the tatami mat.

“Hey!”

“You said we’d all play together, didn’t you big brother?” Fuyumi grinned down at the red haired boy.

Touya pouted at first. But the more Fuyumi grinned at the him the more he couldn’t resist. He grinned back, and with a great deep breath he blew two streams of smoke out of his nose.

“Come with me Princess. I will imprison you in the tallest tower.”

---

“Have no fear for I, Prince Shouto, am here!” Shouto stood on the couch with his little cardboard sword held high and his paper crown atop his head.

“Prince Shouto! You’ve come to save me!” Fuyumi called from her spot in Touya’s lap. They sat in the centre of a little castle they made out of cushions. They had been playing for hours at the very least. A one point they stopped to eat lunch, then decided to play house after their meal. Their father came home not long after that for dinner. It was Shouto who wanted to go back to playing knights before bedtime, so here they were. It was much the same. Always it ended with Touya the dragon being slain.

At this point all he could do was sit there.

“Rawr.” He drawled lazily, back in his dragon costume.

Natsuo beat his chest, the makeshift cardboard breastplate knocking under his small fist.

“It’s time to die. Give up now Hell Dragon!” He said. His right hand waved his red cape like it was flapping heroically in the wind.

Their father and mother sat in nearby armchairs, reading and watching the TV. When Fuyumi wasn’t busy being saved she stared at the two of them in an attempt to sear the image in her brain.

“Children, it’s time for bed don’t you think?” Their mother walked over. She scooped Shouto up in her arms. “Prince Shouto and the Great Knight Natsu will have to have their final showdown with the Hell Dragon some other day.”

“Aww, mom,” Natsuo whined. Fuyumi could tell he was getting tired though. She pulled Touya to his feet. Even he looked pooped. Too sleepy to even remove his costume.

Their mom left carrying Shouto with Natsuo tailing her ankles. They were young and still got ready with her. Though Natsuo could do everything on his own, he just didn’t want to.

As for the eldest siblings, Touya could barely shuffle out of the room. His eyes were actually closed and Fuyumi thought he looked sort of like a zombie in that moment. Suddenly, she felt herself get lifted high into the air, the little dragon beside her following suit.

“They really ran you ragged today, didn’t they?” Her father’s chest rumbled when he spoke. Fuyumi was resting flush against his left shoulder while Touya dozed off on the other. “After you brush your teeth, we can read a story.”

Fuyumi tilted her head, “story?”

Matching turquoise eyes met hers in equal confusion, “do you not want one today? You usually insist. Maybe you are growing out of it like Touya.”

Fuyumi didn’t know what deity decided to strip this timeline away from her but when she woke up she would surely hunt them down and impale them on a spike of ice. Opportunities like this couldn’t be missed. Her fists thumped against her dad’s chest in protest.

“Bedtime story! Bedtime story!” She demanded. He laughed, gently setting her down in front of the washroom nearest her room.

“Then get washed up quickly. Don’t forget to get your back molars when you brush. I think you can pick whatever book you like today. Your brother looks like he’s done for.” Fuyumi looked at the slumped lizard boy on her dad’s shoulder.

Her breath hitched at the realisation that she would get exclusive attention from her father.

“I’ll be quick.” She ran into the bathroom, brushing her teeth and washing her face as fast as she possibly could. Natsuo was always mad about the fact that their dad would never look their way. And in some ways so was she. But an even larger part of her ached for the kind of affection she had always seen on TV and heard from her friends.

Fuyumi entered her room and made a beeline for her bookshelf. What book wouldn’t bore her father too much? She flipped through the whole line twice before stopping. This was her dream, and her father said she could pick whatever she wanted. Just this once, she could be selfish.

“Did you pick a story yet, Fu?” She didn’t even notice her door slid open. Her mother stood there, peaking her head in slightly. After a brief second she came in to sit beside her daughter.

Part of Fuyumi was crestfallen. Is her dad not coming? Did she hope for too much?

“Where’s dad?” Her mother laughed.

“Am I not good enough, darling?”

“N-No it’s not that—”

“Did you start without me?” Her father appeared in the doorway. He went to sit near her futon. “I thought I was being quick too. Natsuo and Shouto are in bed?”

“It’s unusual isn’t it?” Her mother said. “I guess they burnt themselves out. Now you have both of us all to yourself tonight, Fuyumi.”

She wasn’t sure if it was her 22 year old brain or her 9 year old one, but a sudden onset of panic overtook her to try and find the perfect bedtime story to please both her parents. Her search became more frantic.

“It’s okay. Be calm, Fu,” her mother soothed. She pulled a book from the pile. “Why don’t we read this one? You never pick this one because the boys don’t like it.”

Fuyumi nodded enthusiastically. She ran to her futon and tucked herself in. Her mother came and sat on the other side of her, nestling the book between her so that everyone could see.

They took turns playing out various characters. Deep voiced trolls and soft sounding huldras came to life in her room. She fought to keep her eyes wide, as she wanted to hear the end of the book, but more importantly she did not want this dream to end. Yet slowly, to the sound of her mother and father, Fuyumi was overcome with sleep.

---

She woke in a fright, expecting to see the dimly lit abode of the Visionist. But she didn’t. She was still in her room with all her photos and toys. Except she couldn’t see as well today, for whatever reason. If she focused, she could see even more photos strung up around her room. Her hand found her glasses next to her pillow. When did she get these?

With clear vision she could see everything around her. Today she had less toys, but more books and more photos for sure. On her dresser was a little calendar indicating that it was indeed the Sunday after, but two years later. That would explain the glasses.

She ran into the bathroom across the hall, not caring if someone was in it. Her 11 year old self stared back at her with an incredulous look. Fuyumi felt her heart soar. The dream session hadn’t ended like she thought it would. Her mind swirled with ridiculous thoughts. Was she stuck in this simulation forever? Would she get to live out her fantasy in another life?

“Do you mind?” Her gaze shifted slightly to the right to see 14 year old Touya on the toilet, idly browsing his phone. He sounded relatively calm about the situation.

“No,” Fuyumi said, equally as mild. She went to work washing her face and brushing her teeth, all the while hearing Touya sigh exasperatingly. He made no move to get rid of her, suggesting to Fuyumi that this might be normal for them. Gross.

They silently made their way to the dining room where breakfast await. Everyone but their father was there, watching early morning cartoons. Fuyumi’s heart sank. Was this the end of her perfect family life? She stared at five year old Shouto, who played with his All Might figurine. This was the year her father started training Shouto, and the year everything came apart around her.

“Morning sissy,” Natsuo mumbled, sleep still in his eyes. Nothing seemed too off about any of them.

“Something wrong Fu? Did your brother lock you out of the washroom again?” Her mother asked. Fuyumi counted the places she set on the table—six, still. Relief flooded her.

“Aw mom that happened like, once.” Touya grumbled.

“It’s nothing,” Fuyumi assured. “Just having unpleasant thoughts about sharing a bathroom with big brother today.”

“It’s not my fault you came in while I was doing my business!” He sat in a huff, pulling his hood up to hide his pouty expression.

“Takashi told me big bro was in his moody teenage years,” Natsuo laughed. “I don’t want to be a teenager.”

“Stop talking bad about me with your friends you little weasel of a brother,” Touya sneered.

“Haha weasel!” Shouto jabbed his finger at Natsuo.

“Oh hush all of you. Touya stop saying insults around Shouto. Natsu, your brother isn’t being moody. And everyone becomes a teenager eventually.” Her mother said. “Now eat before it gets cold.”

While they ate Fuyumi kept glancing at the door, waiting for her father. Her mother took notice, but said nothing.

“What do you want to play today, big bro?” Natsuo asked, looking at Touya hopefully.

“I’m not playing with you,” Touya said. Natsuo frowned.

“Why not?! Too old for me and Shou?” Shouto looked away from the TV when he heard his named being called.

“Big bro won’t play with us?”

“I can’t play with you babies anymore,” Touya stabbed his food absentmindedly. Fuyumi thought about playing mediator but she reminded herself to let her responsibilities go for the duration of the dream.

“You brother needs to train for his high school entrance exams.” The door was open, revealing her father in his workout clothes. “He will be practicing with me today.” Touya looked smugly at Natsuo.

Natsuo grumbled, pushing a breakfast sausage around, “I want to train with Dad too…”

Her father thought for a moment, “perhaps for a bit.” Her little brother slammed his fork on the table abruptly.

“Really?! Can I?!”

“For a bit!” Touya countered. “You’ll be my practice dummy.”

“Fine by me!”

“Enji, would Natsuo really be okay? He never goes head to head with Touya.” Her mother whispered.

“He’ll be fine,” her father mumbled. “He’s strong.”

“Now I have no one to play with,” Shouto pouted.

“You can play with me Shou,” Fuyumi said. He beamed.

“Okay!”

---

They sat on the mezzanine that over saw the training grounds. Touya was doing warm up exercises off to the side while their father watched Natsuo pull off some area of effect move with his quirk.

Fuyumi sat with Shouto at their mother’s feet—who lounged in a recliner talking to their grandma.

“Yes, they’re out there training. Touya’s applying for all of the hero academies in the district as well as Shiketsu out west. I know he wants to do this but I hope Shiketsu is a last resort. It’s just so far… Hopefully Enji’s alumni status puts him in good standing for UA. I heard their entrance exams were brutal.” She heard her mother say into the phone. Part of her wondered if this was her dream’s wishful thinking or if, in another timeline, Touya really would’ve gone down a hero’s path instead…instead of what actually happened.

Shouto hummed, colouring his hero picture book. Fuyumi was pretty sure Yoroi Musha did not have green skin but whatever.

“I will go to UA too,” Shouto said suddenly, more so to himself than anyone around him.

She closed her own book, looking at her brother. “You will for sure.”

“Will big sissy be a hero too?”

“Hm, being a hero isn’t for me. Maybe a doctor or something,” she replied. Fuyumi knew that her drive to be a teacher was mainly motivated by her inability to protect Shouto in his childhood, and that maybe if she could save some other child in need, that would make up for everything. It wouldn’t ever, but she’d like to believe that was her playing hero in her own way.

“Come at me!” She looked up and watched as Touya relentlessly blasted at a wall of Natsuo’s ice. He re-angled his outstretched palm to a sharp point, wherein his blue flames came out in a thinner, more concentrated stream that ripped through the ice. Natsuo would’ve gotten fried if their father’s own flames hadn’t erupted like a barrier in front of him.

Their mother moved from her chair to watch closely at the railing. Shouto seemed indifferent, turning to look at his sister.

“Let’s all play together after dinner.” He said.

Fuyumi grinned, drawing her attention away from the spar and towards her books, “Yeah let’s do it! And I know just the right game to play.”

---

“Don’t pick Rainbow Road, it isn’t fun,” Natsuo complained.

“Pick Rainbow Road sissy!” Shouto said.

“Mushroom cup circuit?”

“No way, that’s for babies,” Touya grumbled. “Just do the Star Cup circuit or something.”

Ah, good old Mario Kart night. The nice wholesome go-to game for family fun, unlike monopoly. Fuyumi shuddered, she’d like to not think of the last time they played that wretched board game. Even now she would sometimes step on a house piece that had been thrown angrily to the floor.

They were in a tournament, and Touya was racking up wins like no other. But Fuyumi wasn’t too far behind. And Shouto was doing quite well for himself too.

Natsuo on the other hand…

“Argh! This is stupid! I’ll never get anywhere at this point,” he glared menacingly at his Donkey Kong character.

“You have no strategy Natsu,” Touya smirked. “Try drifting every now and then. And the items can be used defensively too you know.”

“I know, I know!” Natsuo said. “Don’t act so smug, you’ve had years to practice.”

“You were there when we bought the console!”

Fuyumi rolled her eyes. She x’d out of the tournament mode and selected a no-CPU, one circuit race.

“Sudden death,” she said. “Nothing before this counts. Winner take all.”

“All what?” Shouto asked.

“All the glory,” Touya grinned maniacally. “Let’s do it.”

Fuyumi picked the Special Cup circuit, best known for its finishing track, Rainbow Road. Natsuo whined loudly when he realised what this meant.

The Dry Dry Ruins were first. Fuyumi liked to believe that this was arguably her worst track. It was only the four of them against each other. The count down sounded off, engines revving at the 2nd beep.

And they were off! Shouto’s Toad character ripped out of the starting gate first, his little mushroom cap head bobbing against the sand dune track. But Touya was not far behind, his Waluigi edging just behind Toad. That didn’t mean Natsuo and Fuyumi were left behind though, oh no. This family was out for blood. The tension in the room so great they didn’t even notice their mother walk into the room and turn back out almost immediately.

Natsuo was a vocal player. In some ways he was under the impression that if he yelled at his Donkey Kong loud enough the gorilla would do something. Normally it annoyed Touya, but he was too in the zone to care.

He had been in 1st place for 90% of the race, Fuyumi a close second. The finish line was in sight.

“Isn’t that so sad,” he smirked, pushing Waluigi through the gate. He set his remote down and watched his character dance on screen. “Better luck next time I guess.”

Fuyumi grit her teeth, “this is far from over.”

“I mean, we can ignore the last twenty times I won,” he said.

“You and your ugly little Luigi knockoff better watch it, Todoroki Touya,” Fuyumi said menacingly. “You’re going to lose from here on out.”

Her brother laughed, leaning back into the sofa with the expression of a man who has already won everything.

“I’d like to see you try.”

---

And try she did. She crushed all her brothers in Moonview Highway, ripping through the cartoony traffic like she was in Fast and Furious. Her two youngest brothers battled head to head, with Natsuo barely seizing second place ahead of Shouto. Ultimately this left Touya to last place. He gradually lost his top spot throughout the race, being slammed one too many times by a blue shell. The grip on his controller tightened.

“A fluke,” he growled to Fuyumi on his right.

“Sure it was, dear brother,” she snickered.

“I’ll get this next one.”

---

He didn’t.

“I don’t understand!” Touya sprung to his feet. A big fat 4th place flashed on his corner of the screen.

This time it was Shouto who pulled ahead of Natsuo. But still they could not catch up to their older sister. Fuyumi was unbothered. She knew Bowser’s Castle like the back of her hand—and probably had maybe 10 years more of experience, but they didn’t need to know that.

“When did you get this good,” Touya looked over.

She shrugged, “maybe you’re just getting worse.”

“Haha burn!” Shouto said from her right.

“Ah shut it you baby,” Touya huffed. “This is the deciding track anyway.”

Fuyumi knew Touya could not come back from that double last place performance. However she also knew that he was the resident Rainbow Road expert, and that this battle was going to be her toughest yet. God willing Natsuo pull some tomfoolery so she can at least get boosted to finish second.

A shadow came to loom over them before the race started.

Their mother looked down on them, “when this race is finished get ready for bed.”

“Aww mommy,” Shouto pouted, staring up at her with big, round mismatched eyes. But her mother was steadfast.

“After race, bed.” And with that she left, presumably to get ready for bed herself.

“Should make this count then!” Natsuo said, grinning. If he played his cards right he’ll be able to finish the whole circuit second—his best placement all night.

The countdown began and the racers were off. 7 seconds in Fuyumi miscalculated the drift on her turn and was left plummeting off the edge of the track.

“God d—” Before she could finish, Touya coughed loudly. “D-darn it.”

“This is eas—” Shouto began, right as his car shot off down into the abyss of space. “Wow! Okay! Never mind!”

Third lap in and Fuyumi was making gains. Remarkably enough Natsuo was in first, with Touya following at his tail pipe. Shouto was a little farther back, having kept falling off the edge in the second lap.

Fuyumi threw her red shell, knocking Natsuo to the side. She cackled as her Yoshi over took him to pull up behind Waluigi.

“I think I like having you in second where you’re supposed to be, sister,” Touya said, tossing a banana behind him that Fuyumi just narrowly dodged.

She ran into a mystery box, smirking when she saw her item. What luck. She threw her red shell in haste, right as Touya drifted round the corner. The shell sent him flying off the edge and left an opening for Fuyumi to seize first place.

“No!”

“Yes!” Fuyumi thrust her firsts in the air as a big gold 1st place blazed across her screen.

Before Touya could be fished up from the empty space, Shouto took the inner corner of the turn, edging out Natsuo to take second place. He grinned up at his older brother, who pouted at his abysmal 3rd place. Touya was left staring in disbelief at his third consecutive 4th place finish, putting him indisputably last overall.

Fuyumi continued to cheer. She had finally placed first out of all her siblings and it only took 22 years!

“Game’s over?” Their mother walked back into the room like she had been waiting outside the whole time.

“Yeah,” Natsuo huffed. “Game’s over.” He put his controller back on the dock and left to get ready for bed, bidding everyone a good night. Shouto followed suit, hopping off the sofa after giving his eldest siblings kisses.

“See you in the morning!” He skipped out with their mother. Fuyumi froze as realisation dawned on her.

She would not see him in the morning.

“Are you coming?” Touya asked. He had already shut the console off and was halfway into the hall when he called back to her.

Fuyumi discretely wiped away the budding tears, “yeah, be right there.”

They got ready at their twin sinks in silence. Touya looked like he had nothing on his mind and Fuyumi looked like she had everything.

She spat her toothpaste out, “Touya.”

He hummed, “yeah?”

“You know I love you right?”

“Yeah of course,” he paused. “Kind of a weird thing to say, no? Something gotten into you lately?”

“Maybe,” she said, staring into her reflection. In the left corner of her eye she saw it slowly take form. Bright and menacing, the witch’s timer ticked down. How long did she have? Minutes? Hours? She was too scared to really take a good look. All Fuyumi knew was that she would not rise to see this dream world of hers again.

She let out a shaky breath, like someone trying to keep their throat from getting tight. It didn’t work, and Touya noticed.

“Uh, are you okay? I didn’t say you were weird if that’s what you’re thinking. I love you too, Fu, you know that.” He tilted his head, trying to get a glance at her face.

She smiled at him through her blurry vision, “I know.” She hugged him. “Good bye, Touya.”

Now he looked alarmed, “wai—what? Fu!” But she was already out the door.

She ran past Shouto and Natsuo’s rooms to see that they were already tucked in with lights out. She poked her head in both of their rooms and whispered quiet good byes and soft “I love you”s. She doesn’t think they heard.

Back in her own room she sat on her futon in a huff, holding the family vacation photo she plucked off the dresser. Silent tears dripped down her face.

“What is my daughter doing crying?” Her father murmured from behind her. “Touya came to us and said you were upset.”

Fuyumi finally turned around and realised her mother was there as well. It reminded her of yesterday when they both came to read her a bed time story. But that wasn’t yesterday for them.

The sound bubbled in her throat, caught. Her parents sat on either side of her with looks of concern painted across their faces. She couldn’t take it anymore. The sobs she held back ripped out of her mouth like water spewing from a broken dam, taking both of them aback.

“Oh baby why are you upset? Tell us what’s wrong,” her mother cooed—which in retrospect made the matter even worse.

“T-This is all a dream! And when I wake up you’ll be gone and Shouto and Natsuo and Touya will all be gone and it won’t be the same and—and,” Fuyumi took a deep breath, “and Mom will be in a hospital and Dad won’t even look at us and Natsuo will never come home and—and Touya—”

“Shh, Fu take breaths or you’ll get hiccups.” Her mom soothed, rubbing her back slowly. Amongst all of Fuyumi’s blubbering, her parents could only muster looks of confusion.

“Fuyumi, what on Earth are you talking about?” Her father said carefully.

Despite her mother’s efforts to calm her Fuyumi still got hiccups. Between those and her sobs she only managed fragmented sentences like “not real” and “just a dream” and “lonely”.

“Honey we don’t…know what you’re talking about but,” her mother paused, “I know that we love you. Whatever world, dream, lifetime or reality we’re in I know we’ll still love you, even if sometimes you don’t feel that way.”

Fuyumi hiccuped. Did they though? Did her father? Sometimes she even thought her mother didn’t all those years ago.

“I can’t pretend to understand the situation you find yourself in, Fuyumi,” her father said. “But what I do know is that you’re my daughter, and you’ll persevere and come out of your struggle that much stronger. You’re a Todoroki, and Todorokis are the worst at giving up.” He said it kind of awkwardly, as if he wasn’t used to expressing this type of sentiment. Fuyumi appreciated it nonetheless.

He gave her a tight one armed hug while her mother held her free hand.

“When you wake up we’ll still be here.” Her mother continued. “Maybe not where you expect us to be—or want us to be—but we’ll never leave you, okay?”

Fuyumi nodded solemnly, “okay.”

Her mother gazed at her sadly, aware that her words had not reached her daughter. She tucked her into her futon and placed a kiss on her forehead. Her father tried to place the photo back on the dresser but she held tight to it.

“Good night Mom, Dad,” Fuyumi murmured. Her parents bade her good night as well, shut the lights off, and left the room.

She placed the frame beside her pillow facing towards her. Slowly, she counted the faces like she was counting sheep. One, two, three, four…five…and six.

---

Her eyes opened to a glaring blue light and the whirring of a machine. The Visionist had unsealed her eyelids, and was making quick work of the cords stuck to her temples.

“Did you have fun, dear?” The Visionist asked, as per her customer service protocol.

“I…guess I did,” Fuyumi said. Overall, she thought, she experienced some of her happiest moments in that dream.

“You cried almost as many times as you smiled,” the witch noted. “I hope whatever you found in there was fulfilling.”

When she was unhooked from the machine she rose slowly off the bed. She supposed the witch was right. Though it left her with a need to have more, she relished in the images that were seared into her mind, leaving her optimistic for what’s to come.

“You could say that,” she smiled.

---

After paying and thanking the Visionist, promising to come back for another session in the future, Fuyumi set off back down the streets of Tokyo.

Her phone pinged from her purse. She unlocked the screen and saw a new messaged from Natsuo.

“This is a reminder to pack an extra change of clothes and a coat for mom! It’s gonna get cold next week,” it read. They would visit their mother this weekend while their father was taking a trip to Kyushu for business.

Another message pinged through her phone, though this time not from Natsuo.

“Hey sis, let me know if mom has gotten the letters I sent her. We’ll talk soon. Shouto.”

Fuyumi chuckled, about to pocket her phone when it buzzed again. Popular right now, isn’t she? To her surprise it was neither Shouto nor Natsuo, nor any colleague, but her father. He never messaged her.

“Leaving for Kyushu now to assist Hawks. Will be back by Monday.” It was almost imperceptibly slow, yet surely Fuyumi’s face stretched into a soft smile. It wasn’t much, and normally she would think nothing of it. Except today was different.

Her mother was right in a sense. When Fuyumi awoke it wasn’t the same, but they weren’t gone—not all of them anyway. Maybe they weren’t where she’d like them to be, and maybe they never would be. Still they were here, with her.

And for now she didn’t think she could ask for more. She’ll just have to push through all the loneliness and hollow wishes. Because she’ll see the family she’s always known grow in front of her eyes. She’ll see her mother smile more, see Natsuo begin to connect with Shouto, see Shouto flourish into the hero he’s always wanted to be, and see her father strive to be the dad she’s always wanted him to be.

And one day, together with them, she’ll make peace with what happened to Touya.

It’s hard. It’s really hard. She’ll understand if her brothers don’t want to take on this struggle with her. She’ll understand if what she saw in her dreams will never come close to the reality she lives in.

But she can hope. And she’ll never give up hoping. Because Todorokis are the worst at giving up.