MHA: UltraMan

"I'm home!" Uta called as the door slid open. The quiet hum of the house greeted her, the familiar scent of warm food drifting from the kitchen. With Jackson away for a while, she figured she'd take the chance to visit.

"Uta, come in! I'm making dinner," Fuyumi's voice rang out, light and welcoming.

Slipping off her shoes, Uta stepped inside, but instead of heading straight to the kitchen, she veered toward a small, dimly lit room. The air was thick with the scent of aged incense, and at the center of the space sat a framed photo—her brother's eyes forever frozen in time.

Kneeling before the altar, she struck a match, the tiny flame flickering before settling into a steady glow. The incense stick crackled as it caught fire, a thin trail of smoke curling upward. Pressing her hands together, she closed her eyes.

"I wish I had been here…" Her voice was barely above a whisper. A warmth gathered in her eyes, blurring the image of the photograph. A single tear slipped free, tracing a path down her cheek before she wiped it away with the back of her hand. Straightening her posture, she took a slow breath. "Rest well, brother."

The moment lingered before she carefully put everything away and stepped back into the main part of the house.

As she settled at the table, the quiet padding of footsteps signaled another arrival. Shoto entered, his usual reserved expression in place as he took a seat without a word.

"Fuyumi, where's Natsuo?" Uta asked, breaking the silence.

"He hasn't come back from college yet," Fuyumi replied, setting down a plate of food.

"Oh, right." Uta leaned back slightly. "How are your studies going?"

Fuyumi's lips curled into a small smile. "It's going well. Teaching feels like the right path for me."

"Ah, right, you're teaching at U.A. now." Fuyumi mused, reaching for her chopsticks. "How was your first day?"

"Teaching music went well today—it's a breeze," Uta said, setting down her chopsticks with a satisfied sigh.

Before Fuyumi could respond, the door slid open.

Their father stepped inside.

The room fell into silence. The once-warm atmosphere turned stiff, the weight of his presence pressing down on them. No one moved. No one spoke.

Endeavor stood tall, his figure imposing even without the hero costume. He joined them at the table, and all conversation came to an abrupt halt. The air was thick with unspoken words, an awkward tension settling over them.

"So, Dad, how was work?" Fuyumi asked, her voice careful.

Endeavor grunted. "It went well." His gaze shifted to Shoto, eyes sharp with expectation. "The U.A. Sports Festival isn't far off. Make me proud. Show them your flames. Stop being so stubborn."

Then, he turned to Uta.

A nod. That was all.

Their relationship had always been strained. The moment she didn't show a quirk like his, he lost interest in her. But he was impressed that her "useless" quirk wasn't all it seemed—it could become more than just illusions; it could solidify into something real. Yet, despite this potential, she chose a career in music, a path he couldn't understand.

And now, there was that man—the one she was seeing. The one who wanted to propose.

Endeavor didn't know how to feel about it.

So he gave no answer.

"Father, I'll excuse myself," Shoto muttered, standing up abruptly and leaving the table.

Fuyumi let out a quiet sigh before gathering the dishes, moving with practiced ease as if this routine had played out a thousand times before.

Soon, only Uta remained.

She exhaled sharply, gripping the edge of the table before looking up at her father. "Why are you still so obsessed with All Might? Even after everything—after Toya's death—you still cling to this pointless rivalry."

Endeavor's gaze darkened. "You have no right to speak on that," he shot back. "You weren't even here when Toya died. You turned your back on this family and ran off to live with your aunt."

"Because of you!" Uta's voice rose, years of frustration spilling out. "All I ever wanted was your attention. But the moment my quirk awakened and it wasn't what you wanted, you cast me aside like I was nothing!"

Endeavor didn't respond. For once, he had no words.

Uta let out a bitter laugh. "And isn't it ironic? I don't have your flames, and yet, if I had chosen to be a hero, I could've easily taken your number two spot. But I didn't. Because of you. Once, I dreamed of being a hero—but after seeing what it did to this family, I wanted no part of it." She stepped away from the table, her voice cold. "Music became my escape, and I don't regret choosing it."

She turned on her heel. "I'll be taking my leave."

Without another word, Uta stormed out, leaving Endeavor alone in the heavy silence.

Uta was more frustrated than anything. It wasn't just her father; she had other problems weighing on her mind. Jackson was overworking himself, pretending everything was fine, lying about it like he was some kind of actor. Well, at least he was good at that. She sighed, knowing he had gotten some rest yesterday. She looked up at the night sky, trying to clear her thoughts.

"Uta?"

Her sister's voice broke through the silence. "Is everything okay?"

Uta's frown shifted instantly into a smile. She turned to face Fuyumi. "Of course, why do you ask?"

"I heard you and Dad fighting…"

Uta waved it off. "It's nothing to worry about. I was just trying again to reach him."

Fuyumi's brow furrowed as she spoke, her eyes softening with a hint of sadness. "You know, I kind of hoped we could all be a happy family—Mom, Dad, you, Natsuo, Shoto… but it feels like just a dream. Dad hasn't changed, and Shoto hasn't even visited Mom. I really wish he would. It would mean so much to her, just like when you visit her. She's always so happy to see you."

Uta gave a quiet nod. "She does seem to be getting better," she said, her voice gentle.