Tori:

I walk towards the school gate with Henry moving around me, talking a mile a minute, and- honestly, I wouldn't have him any other way. I know it means he's happy.

"Oh yeah! I got to work with Mirko herself- do you have any idea how many people get to do that?! That was insane!" he yells. "I didn't ask for her autograph- oh, crap, I should be carrying my notebook around here- that book is gonna be worth a fortune by the end of the week."

"They probably won't sign," I note. "I'm not sure how many people here actually like us."

"It can't hurt to ask—well, it can't hurt me; I can body swap!" He snaps his fingers at me as he makes that quip, and I shake my head.

I hug my anatomy book to my chest. I really do treasure the chance to make something of my power. I'm just not as excited about the people we're meeting, that's all. I'm sure they're all great people. Henry suddenly stops and pulls me back.

"Whoa—no walking past the gate, remember? We can't go anywhere unapproved—and certainly not alone. We're lucky they're letting us go home today," he says, pulling me over to a gate post on the school side. "We have to wait for Pops."

I nod and stand next to him. "Henry, question,"

"Yeah?"

"Haven't you met all of these people before as the Bandit? Why are you acting all star-struck now?"

"I met them while living out a nightmare, sis." He buzzes his lips and looks to the sky. "All I wanted to do back then was ask for help."

"Why didn't you?"

"I can't outmaneuver Charles. But I can them."

"They've all been holding back against you..."

"I don't know what that means. I just know none of them would have been fast enough to rescue you. So I had to do everything perfectly- get you away from Charles, get the guards to relax, pretend to be on their side..."

"Did you... am I really worth all that?" I ask, moving to stand in front of him.

He cocks his head slightly and smiles, a kind expression on his face, "Yeah. Yeah, you are."

"I love you too, big bro," I reach into my bag. That's why I made sure to get copies of everything they gave us for you. Seriously—no backpack today?" I say as I show him our study guide and a few study textbooks and pamphlets.

"I forgot, alright?" He says. He takes the paper. "Besides, some of these things won't be an issue- 6th grade math? Dude, we're both gonna nail that."

"More time for the other topics."

"I got science easy, and reading that anatomy book will also benefit you there. Language won't be an issue for me, and you were Charles' secretary, so I'm sure you've got vocab covered."

"That leaves social studies and health slash anatomy."

"You gonna be done with that book any time soon?"

"Get your own," I say, hugging the tome tightly.

"Shouldn't be hard- sounds like we got everything-"

"Henry... social studies."

"Is only 15%, and 85 is a passing grade; we have everything-"

"Henry... I doubt it's that straightforward. If you get an F on history and these guys are PART of history..."

Henry grumbles. "I know the history that involves heroes anyway..."

"You struggle in history, of all things?" comes a voice. We both look up and see Hizashi in his full hero ensemble: yellow sunglasses, a biker jacket and jeans, speakers around his neck, and long blonde hair that somehow sticks straight up. Just looking at him, I chuckle.

I'm his daughter now, so I might as well ask, right? "What is it with that dumb costume?"

He feigns offense as he puts his hand on his chest, or at least I hope he's faking for several reasons, "Dumb costume?! People always say how cool I look- I'll have you know your mother says it's... hmm... eleven might be too young to talk about that on second thought." My eyes widen at the implication, but I don't encourage the topic. "Don't worry about it, little listener." He kneels down to be on the same level as my brother and me. "Yeah, I know it's goofy, but who says I'm aiming to be taken seriously all the time?"

"If the crooks don't take you seriously, that's a good way to get a beat down," Henry says, folding his arms.

But Hizashi only smirks at him. "I know about your side of the fence, Henry- we may be tied for how much we know as I've been fighting longer than you've been alive, but you've actually had to LIVE in it. People like the ones who controlled you don't exactly have a dress code. What they care about is reputation. Trust me, I have that- and a costume that stands out helps. Some guys like Aizawa play into things and try to look scary, but I figure actions speak louder than colors, ya know? Of course, I don't look scary; the costume is for the public, not the bad guys. When I show up, people sigh at my stupid outfit and eventually sigh in relief."

"In theory," Henry says.

"Had a rough day, I suspect- how do you feel right now?" Hizashi asks.

Henry and I both look at each other. "Um... honestly I feel fine... huh... well..." I say.

Henry shrugs and says, "Well, I guess you can't argue with results."

Hizashi nods. "Now, what's this I overhear about history being a problem? From how everyone talks about you, Henry boy, I figured you were some kind of savant or something."

"I literally am," Henry says. "But, ya know- no one is universally good at stuff."

"All Might..." Hizashi says, name-dropping Japan's number 1 hero.

"Doesn't count," Henry says with a smirk.

"Hmm- really, you work to be as good as him. And this school expects you to work hard. 85 might be a passing grade, but if you get under fifty on any subject, well... I can't guarantee you'll have enough teachers voting to let you in. That's how the entrance exam is decided, you realize, right?"

"Comittee?" Henry asks.

"Yes. It's not just a game of getting a certain number; you must impress everyone. Nishiya is gonna be pissed if you just write off his entire department."

"Wait... Nishiya? Do you mean that guy who, like, makes wood weapons with his quirk? Kinda a new hero, isn't he? I didn't even know he worked here."

Hizashi shrugs. "Someone has to do history. We often have a group of judges look over the entrance exams, but what we're doing with you is so unusual we're just having the relevant UA staff look over you." He holds up a finger, "The point is, the tactics you use to get ahead on a normal academic test won't work here. We're not testing your ability to take a test; we're trying to test your ACTUAL abilities. If you just give up on history because it's hard, that will be seen as a point against you." He gets back up. "Follow me kiddos. You can leave campus for the next week as long as I take responsibility for you."

"Can we stay here and keep studying?" I ask, realizing that maybe we need to.

"What? And miss meeting your new sister? Last night, you got home so late that she was asleep, not to mention you two were passed out yourselves. Do you know how disappointed she was that she didn't see her new family members?" Hizashi folds his arms. "I know Aizawa's logic when I hear it. He means well, but if he ran the whole school, we'd be churning out nothing but broken idiots until we closed completely. There's a reason we have so many professors." Hizashi taps his head. "Regardless of your commitment to getting into this school, the human mind doesn't work that way. Do you think you'll be better prepared for test day if you do nothing but eat, train, study, and sleep? Well, I hate to say it, but if you do that, your muscles will be torn to the point of uselessness, and your brains will be overwhelmed with anxiety. If you cram for a day, maybe you'll get ahead that day- but cram for a whole week, and you may get to the point where you would have done better on the test if you just didn't study. I'm serious; there have been studies on this stuff. It's called the "Law of Diminishing Returns." If you two try, you'll start losing information from your heads in less than three days."

"That quick?" I ask, rather shocked. "That's nuts."

Henry perks up, "I think Pops is describing a bell curve, sis," I look at him quizzically. "You see, all human bodily functions work like that. For instance, if you want skin and muscles more resistant to damage, you can go out there and let yourself get hit progressively harder over longer periods. Your skin and muscles will initially toughen faster and faster until you hit a certain peak of effective training- at which point you'll just wear your skin thin and tear it right off. In statistics, that's called-"

"Hold up, you just broke down an advanced Algebraic concept like nothing... yet you struggle with names and dates?" Hizashi says, taken aback. Henry just shrugs.

I shrug as we walk to Hizashi's big black car. "That's Henry. He's slow at memorization, but once he learns the rules of a system, he breezes through everything after," I say.

"Yeah- history is just names and dates. I could explain all the strategies of that one French general dude who conquered large parts of Europe, but um... like his name was... Patton? Greg? Nnnnn... yeah! Greg- Greg Hitler! General Greg Hitler from the 1930s- right?"

Hizashi and I both have to contain our laughter. "I think you mean Napolean, but I think I like Greg Hitler better," says Hizashi as we pile into the car. "But seriously- you can't even remember Napolean Bonapart?" Henry shrugs. "Well, we're going to have work to do then."

Out of the city and out into the countryside we drove. In time, I was looking over rolling hills and wide open spaces. Here and there were what I guessed were small groups of houses where I could see children playing and talking while adults went about chores to keep their homes up and nice looking. Never in all my life had I seen an open space like this. To me, it was beautiful. When I crack open the window, the air smells so different from the city. I close my eyes and feel like just enjoying it.

I see new flowers everywhere and even a few small animals. I want to open the back door and run into those fields, picking every one of those flowers. What for? I really don't know. Maybe I would give them to my brother for all he tries to do for me.

Eventually, Henry speaks up, asking, "Why don't you live in the city?"

"I used to, but it's too crowded for my wife Yuka," Hizashi says. "This is cheaper anyway, except for the gas price." Hizashi looks into his rearview mirror back at Henry. "So, "Bandit," history is your problem subject, huh?"

Henry stares out his window for a beat before answering. "Yes, sir."

"Yes, sir? I'm fine with pops. That sounded serious. No need to feel bad; everyone has something they're not so good at. We'll just work on it." Hizashi says. "Or is it that I used "Bandit?" Is your criminal history a sore spot?"

Henry sits back. "No, no, it's fine. Call me Bandit whenever. I always wanted him to be a hero, and someday, so help me, he will be."

"You're gonna fight to reclaim the name, huh? I respect that." Hizashi says with a serious-looking nod. "So I guess that leaves you feeling bad about not learning history very well. Like I said- and really like you said, it's-"

"It's not just that," Henry interrupts. "I've never had an easy time in a normal school. It's like I'm driving in a vehicle with nothing but an ultrasensitive gas pedal and an E-break. Once I learn the rules of a system and understand how they all work, I blast forward, leaving all the other students in the dust. I must be two grades ahead in math, for instance. But any time I have to memorize something new my progress slows to a crawl."

"Anyone ever figure out why?" Hizashi asks.

"Why would they?" Henry asks why.

"You must be curious."

"You think I control my own access to doctors and stuff like that?" Henry asks with an annoyed half-glare. I punch his shoulder hard for that, and Henry feigns remorse. Hizashi is silent for a moment. 

"Fine," Henry begins again, "Maybe that wasn't the nicest way to put a not-so-nice thing. Still, no one cares what I want. No one had time to figure out what was wrong with me. They just called me handicapped till about six when I finally started talking normally- then savant when I started having a bigger vocabulary than most kids twice my age."

"You didn't talk till six?" Hizashi asks, sounding concerned.

Henry just shrugs. "A few words here and there before that—hard to explain, really. I guess memory and language are linked because I have difficulty remembering things before I was six."

"That's half your life... you don't want to know- I mean... sorry, you do want to know; it's just that no one gave you the opportunity to find out, right?" Hizashi asks, correcting himself before my brother can snap.

"I mean... yeah," Henry says, staring out the window.

"Well, we're gonna find out what's going on, okay buddy?" Hizashi says. "Next few months or so, I'll figure out someone to talk to."

"I..." Henry looks ready to get angry again but stops. "I... you promise?"

"I swear it, kiddo," says Hizashi.

I watch Henry look out the window again for a few seconds. After a few beats, he finally talks again, and I can't believe what I hear. "Thanks... dad..."

Hizashi smiles as I'm frozen. Henry has never called anyone "dad" through all our foster families and Charles.

The Yamada home is beautiful as we pull into the drive. Dried-up but still big yellow sunflowers line the right interior of the front yard, and azalea bushes grow around the entire perimeter, lined by different colors of kiku flowers: yellow on the left, pink in front, and purple on the right. The home itself is white with a red Irimoya-zukuri roof, one story, and raised on a concrete support. I can't tell, but I suspect the property is two or three acres, with most of it in the back.

I see the white steps leading to the front door as we pull in. On the landing is a woman dressed in a pink flowing kimono with a little girl dressed in a bright red kimono, jumping up and down as she watches us drive in. The little girl cheers, "New big brother! New big sister! They'll play with me! New siblings! My first siblings!" The girl and mother both have black hair and look small compared to my brother and me as European-born kids. The girl is positively tiny- but she's so cute!

As we get out, I'm hit by the fresh air of suburbia for the first time. The air is crisp, and I can actually smell the flowers. I look around the driveway and spot a few purple flowers growing through the cracks and around the perimeter. I run and grab two handfuls and then zip over to the steps to the front door. I pause, looking up.

Can this be real? A real home? I have tears in my eyes as I go up the steps, watching the two females, my new mother and my new little sister. I present the flowers to them both, the little girl gasping in surprise as she takes them while the mother laughs and grabs my head, pulling me into a tight hug. The world fades away, and all that's here is these two girls, my mother and sister.

It's hard to describe what I'm feeling. My life feels like it's been leading up to this one moment. Bouncing from home to home in foster care, that hell on earth that was the mansion of Charles Miles, the girls' prison- but it's all just a bad memory now- I'm in a real home. This is where I belong... isn't it?

I hear Hizashi clear his throat behind me... I hear my father. I just have to pause in my mind, realizing all this, in part, belongs to me now. I'm not just on the outside looking in; I belong here.

I feel a body pulled into Mom's hug next to me and recognize the feeling of my brother. He's crying, too. No matter what they put you through, this is what every orphan yearns for, adoption. The day someone finally claims you.

Henry and I are taken into the home, and I'm led over to a couch.

The woman, my mother, is named Yuka, and the little girl is named Yukari. As my brother and I sit together, we realize we still have to push forward to ensure we have as much time with our new family as possible so we'll be in school, not prison. I take out my anatomy book- but Yuka takes that from me and puts it on the counter, pushing Yukari in front of me.

"You'll have time for that later, missy, " says my mom. "But your little sister has been waiting for days to meet you two—and let me tell you when you both just fell asleep on the ride here yesterday, she was frustrated. No more making her wait—go have fun, you three!"

Without another word, Yukari grabs my arm and Henry's and yanks us out of the home and into the backyard.

(***)

Hizashi:

"If only moments like this would last forever, eh, Yuka?" I ask as we watch the children running around outside together.

Yuka just watches for a few moments. "They... they really are just like two normal children. To think I was ever afraid of them being with Yukari- but just look at them. Henry is gentle with both of his sisters despite having more energy, Tori looks like she knows just what to say, and Yukari is barely keeping up.... I never thought I would see someone with more energy than her. Course, it's two to one. My girl is..., but they're all mine now, aren't they?"

"Yep- all three of them belong to us now."

"Does Tori have a kimono of her own? I'm thinking... ruby, maybe? Is that a bit much for now? Hmmm... I'm sure she's accomplished many things in her life, especially as the former secretary of a crime lord, but I'd rather not celebrate that. Maybe orange to show hope for a better tomorrow. We'll save ruby for when she has some respectable accomplishments- which she's our daughter, of course, she will."

"If she has an orange kimono, I haven't seen it. Honestly, it might be weird if she had any kimonos since we're her first real family. I doubt Charles gave her one- well, he was rich, so maybe- but I doubt she'll care if-"

"We shall not speak of her as if she ever belonged to that beast," Yuka looks on and breathes in, holding her nose high. "She's mine now. That's the end of it. We may discuss her original parents, but I will not have that crime lord's name spoken in this home as the former father of MY children."

"How much should we commit to finding that original family?" I ask. "How curious are you?"

Yuka twists her lips. "Right now? Not especially. I'm not saying it's meaningless to know, but we have priorities."

"That's what I was thinking," I nod.

"Tell me, how goes the trial to put their abuser behind bars?"

"From what I understand, Charles is imprisoned for now, and the trial is ongoing. Those two are still active informants and will have to testify. Associating with them is still dangerous. You should know that." I say.

"As if I would walk away now as a result."

"I wasn't saying you would." I pause to think more about the situation. "Charles' networks are being discovered all over Japan, and I doubt it's not weakening him and whatever is left of his loyalists..." I get up and fold my arms. "But be careful mentioning our connections to those two in public."

"But-"

"I'm not saying we disassociate; they belong to us now, and nothing is changing that. But once they pass their exam, those two will stay in heavily guarded UA dorms. But you and Yukari will still be out here in the country for now."

"We can't fight that? Look at them... they're not thugs- they're children. They shouldn't be kept as prisoners anywhere, even UA- it's just wrong."

""UA is a boarding school now, and most students live on campus during the school year. Henry and Tori won't be allowed to go out independently, but that's not unusual. Even in regular middle schools, students don't have the freedom to just go shopping by themselves. Besides, they're still young; it's normal for them to have restrictions. Don't overthink it."

"And what about winter break and next summer? Where do they go then?" Yuka asks.

That's a question I don't know how to answer. UA closes during winter break and in the summer and may do so even during this time of high security with the rise of the League of Villains. My home here in the suburbs doesn't have the security to satisfy the government—am I really going to have to put my children in jail for Christmas? The very idea...

"Hizashi- they're going to put my babies in jail on Christmas?" Yuka says, starting to get angry. "You have to fight that."

"At this point, those two are lucky to be getting out of jail at all, Yuka."

"But on Christmas? They're even European children- they're probably Christians."

"You don't know that."

"They certainly could be; if they are, that would only make things worse."

I sigh and get up, leaning against the nook. "Let's cross that bridge as we get there, okay?" I cock my head to the side. "Did Yukari change out of her kimono before running out there..."

Yuka sighs with a slight smile. "No... I didn't remind her... that thing will be a nightmare to clean."

"I'll go get them," I say, moving to go out after the kids.

But Yuka put up her hand to stop me. "No- no- let them have this moment together- Yukari isn't going to live with them. How often will she even be able to roll in the grass with her siblings?"

I watch the three as Tori and Yukari try to force Henry to the ground using their main strength in some random game. It's not working for them, which isn't surprising given their relative histories, but it's cute anyway. It's such a beautiful and hilarious moment, but... it's still tainted by what we know lies ahead for them. 

"So- what ARE we going to do? Just accept them being prisoners of UA?" Yuka asks. "I hate that idea- they aren't just criminals. Honestly, the more I think about it, they're victims, plain and simple. They had no say in what they did."

I put my hands in my pockets and prepare my whole speech. I knew this would come up, and I imagine it will be even harder to explain things to Tori and Yukari. Henry seems like he could keep up, though. 

"Here it is Yuka. The government can't interact with those two on this level; it's only reacting to what it has. They were foster kids- then members of a criminal organization, one of them even being an individual who was active and dangerous enough to gain the title of villain. That's enough to put those two in cells for years to come- at least on paper."

"That can't be the end of it."

"It's not. Nezu and I have a plan based on what he negotiated with Henry in his office. That's what we're working out right now- here are the details." I tap the nook in its center. "Here is UA, UA is set to guard, house, and train those two." I tap the left side of the counter. "And here are the investors of UA; if we piss them off, no more UA. Nezu tells them that if he can get Henry's intel in the short term, he can graduate as a keener breed of hero for the next year, ready to uproot underground organizations like the one Charles ran. Then, in the long term, the new EMT program that Tori will help launch will provide new opportunities for investment and profits." I tap the right side of the nook. "Over here is the government. Nezu is telling them he can keep those two under enough relative control to keep the public safe while helping them gain accomplishments that can potentially start to overshadow their current reputations, letting them earn better lives."

"I see," says Yuka. "I suppose it's a perfect plan on paper. What's your role?"

"This family's role is crucial. We can actually represent them when things come up —like winter break. But more importantly, I know it will be taxing, but how often can you and Yukari come to the school?"

"Well, I have to maintain our home here, and Yukari has her own assignments," she starts.

"Yukari could use her sibling's help on those assignments."

"True... I can't guarantee DAILY visits. But I should be able to swing visits that are close to that- if I have my own car..."

"Fffff... snag. I'll talk to Nezu about a bonus or something to cover that, but getting a new car will be a week at least..."

"Well, this week will be busy enough for Henry and Tori- meanwhile, you and I work on getting that car?"

"Strange that of all the important directions it could go- this conversation leads to talking about a new car," I say with a chuckle.

"But it's important- I want to see my babies."

"Don't worry. We'll get it done."

We watch for a few more minutes. "You think... Do you think flowers for their dorms are a good idea?"

I raise an eyebrow at her, unsure how that would even work. Then I shake my head. "Talk to Tori, ya goofy woman. I doubt Henry will even WANT that."

"Well- a woman has to add her touch, you know- I'll figure out something for the Bandit- mark my word."

"That a threat or a blessing."

"I suppose that's up to Henry."