[ENG]Shoto Todoroki : Modern-day Terrorist

Chapter 152

His mouth opened slightly. His eyes widened. A flicker of pain flashed through his eyes and my stomach clenched.

- It's true, he said. I haven't always been able to protect you

His gaze dimmed, his features hardened.

- I'm sorry I haven't been enough

All my anger vanished and I felt empty inside.

- Dad...

Jaw clenched, he looked down at his folded hands before him.

- I understand why you didn't tell me then, especially now that we know someone had the hangar video. All those people who would have tried to kidnap you...

He clutched his hands together so tightly his knuckles were white.

His voice was hoarse.

- I completely understand why you didn't tell me, but it still hurts...

His eyes shone, and it wasn't because they were reflecting the moonlight.

- I've always done everything I could to protect you. I- I did my best to raise you, I did my best to support you whenever things weren't going well, I did everything I could to make you happy. I thought... I thought you trusted me, you know?

My eyes grew hot and my chin began to quiver in spite of myself.

- We could have... if you'd told me, we could have moved to Italy to live with your grandmother, where you could have been protected. If you'd told me, and someone had come for you, I wouldn't have hesitated for an instant to sacrifice myself if it meant you'd live.

Just imagining that he-

- I wouldn't have wanted you to die, I murmured. I don't want you to die

I'm doing all of this for you.

He smiled sadly.

- There isn't a more dignified death for a father

I turned my head to the side so he would not see my expression.

- Don't say that

I rubbed my burning eyes with my thumb.

My shoulders trembled in spite of myself, the corners of my mouth drooping as I couldn't calm down.

- We could have... so many things could have been different. You could have told me last spring, before you got into Yuei. You could have taken me aside and explained your reasons, why you hadn't told me until now. You could have... you've had so many opportunities...

I didn't want to look at him until I'd gotten back a cool expression, but I had the sensation I'd never be able to calm down enough to face him.

- The only reason I found out was because you didn't have a choice, not because you wanted me to know

I felt like dying inside because he was right.

- I didn't do it out of spite, I whispered hoarsely. Nor because I didn't trust you. It just... seemed like the right thing to do under the circumstances. It just seemed like the right thing to do.

- You were a child, he said in a low voice. You unlocked your Quirk before you were four. Its true nature must have revealed itself at, what, your sixith birthday ? You were six and you decided that I didn't deserve to know something that important. You were a child and you decided I wasn't worthy of your trust

I turned my head sharply towards him, deciding that my reddened eyes were worth less than the truth.

- Of course I trust you-