Chapter 5

Hello everyone! Mimmy here with chapter 5 of The Flame's Shadow! This one is one I've been looking forward to for five years, and here it is now!

And I'm sure the revelation will be a shock to no one :sweat_smile:

#WritingMatters

Getting permission to go home for the weekend had proven to be way harder than Matt had ever expected. The difficulty fluctuated depending on who was asking, of course. Hiro Todoroki, the golden child of U.A., barely needed to ask, while Matt, the one without a known hero relative, faced far more resistance than he felt was fair. The staff’s reluctance to let him leave stemmed from a mix of protective instinct and bureaucratic procedure, even after countless hours of pleading, he hadn't managed to secure his freedom for the weekend.

As the clock struck eight on a Friday evening, Matt felt the excitement bubbling inside him. Sneaking out past curfew had become a near art form at U.A., ridiculously so after everything the school had endured over the last fifteen years. He wasn’t about to complain or bring the matter to the school’s attention; freedom was far too sweet to waste on being a teacher's pet.

The streets stretched out before him, each step further easing the tension that had built up during the five weeks he had spent confined within the walls of U.A. The air was crisp and cool, the kind of evening that made him feel as if he could shake off the weight of expectations and pressures that had been pressing down on him. He had a long walk ahead to get home, but nothing could dampen his spirits now.

As he walked, memories flickered through his mind—late-night training sessions under dim gym lights, the relentless early morning drills that left him breathless, the cacophony of laughter and encouragement from his classmates. It was strange how quickly he had grown accustomed to the rhythm of U.A., even if he had never truly wanted to be there. But tonight, none of that mattered. Tonight was about him, a break from the relentless pursuit of heroism and the competition that often left him teetering on the edge of control.

The quiet of the neighborhood enveloped him as he strolled, the occasional rustle of leaves and distant laughter creating a soothing backdrop. With every step, he quickened his pace, eager to reach the door that marked the boundary between the chaos of school life and the sanctuary of home. His heart raced at the thought, a rush of emotions flooding him as he rounded the final corner.

There it was—home, illuminated by soft lights glowing through the windows. His heart swelled, and a slight smile crept onto his face. This was where he could be himself, where he didn’t have to hide his quirk or who he was beneath layers of expectation and scrutiny.

He paused just a few steps from the door, letting the moment wash over him. Taking a deep breath, he savored the promise of a weekend free from stupid hero training. With that thought, he reached for the doorknob, his fingers brushing against the cool metal. Just as he was about to push it open, he hesitated, the weight of everything he’d experienced slowing him. But for now, all he wanted was to step inside, close the door on the outside world, and embrace the comfort—albeit chaotic—of home.

With a firm twist of the knob, he stepped over the threshold, ready to leave the unwanted drama behind, at least for a little while.

“I'm home!” he called once the door clicked shut behind him.

Silence greeted him for a few seconds, and a groan escaped his lips as he discerned the sounds of laughter coming from the living room—two voices that were all too familiar, yet neither belonged to his father. The laughter was loud enough that it had likely buried his words.

Approaching the living room, he leaned against the wall, an amused smirk playing on his lips. He eyed the scene before him, the three people sitting comfortably on the couch, completely unaware of his presence.

“If I’d known this would be my welcome party, I would’ve stayed at U.A.,” he remarked, the teasing edge in his voice echoing through the room.

All three heads turned to him in surprise.

“There you are!” his father exclaimed, making no effort to rise from his spot on the couch. “We thought you had either killed someone or gotten caught.”

Matt rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. “It’s not like I could,” he said, stretching his hand slightly to reveal a flicker of blue flames dancing in the air above his palm. “You won't let me have a chance to, which is completely unfair. What’s the fun of having your quirk if you won’t let me burn people with it, Dad?”

Dabi’s eyebrow raised, an amused smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “First off, you can’t just go burning people when the whole point is to be undercover. Second, you really think I’d let you go all pyro without some supervision?”

Toga, seated next to Dabi, chimed in with a grin. “He does have a point.”

“How does he have a point?” Dabi asked, turning to Toga with a mix of amusement and confusion in his eyes. “You know what? You two spent too much time unsupervised; I should’ve known this maniac would corrupt you.”

Toga frowned and reached out to smack Dabi lightly on the arm. “You’re one to talk, Dabi...” She pouted. “You’re the one who asked me to take him out while you—”

Dabi shot her a brief glare, and she fell silent, quickly shifting her attention back to Matt.

“You tried to burn your brother when he was a baby, Dad,” Matt shot back playfully. “You can’t expect me to come out normal… especially after raising me with these people.” He smiled at the memories of their childhood—his adventures with Toga, the chaotic joy of 'hunting' together, and Twice’s unpredictable antics that had filled their days with laughter.

Dabi rolled his eyes but said nothing for a few seconds, his gaze lingering on Toga, a warning look aimed directly at her. The air felt charged, a playful tension that hung between them.

“Are you two done?” he finally asked, glaring at both Toga and Matt. “We’re on a schedule here, so if it’s fine with you two, kids, we should get to the point.”

Matt scoffed but nodded, getting the hint. He approached the couch, plopping down on the floor in front of Dabi, ready to dive into whatever agenda they had set for the evening.

“Alright, alright, fine!” he conceded, a grin still plastered on his face. After weeks of pressure and expectations, he was finally home, ready to immerse himself in the chaos he adored, if only for a little while.