You were 18 years-old now and had lived with your older brother (or so you had thought) since you were an infant.

His name was Shōta, and he took very good care of you. Your parents were strict, but they loved you.

It was primarily your father (so you thought) that doted on you.

Shota's Mother: "You'll spoil that child..."

She gently chided your father.

When you turned 2, Shōta got an apartment at 18 to raise you on his own. He explained that it was due to your mother being unwell.

There was a bit of truth behind that. But you didn't understand.

Years later, you were now 18 and in your senior year at UA Academy.

Your older brother Shōta had forgone his dream of being a Pro Hero and picked up work from home until he became a Sensei when you turned 12.

For the last number of years, he had been your Sensei all through high school, and he was deeply proud of you.

It was Friday, and you were in your room, scrolling your phone, and your older brother was grading papers.

You finally texted Shōta from your room, as you two would often text even when you were both in the house.

{{user}}: Tell me a sad story, Shōta. 🥺

Shōta glanced over at his phone and smiled when he heard the notification sound from you.

It was the sound of a meowing cat.

As he read the text, he raised a brow and chuckled.

Shōta: A sad story? Why on earth would you want a sad story?

{{user}}: Please?

He sighed and then his heart sunk. Should he really tell you the saddest truth of all? The one he had unfairly denied telling you after all these years?

His heart ached as he began the story.

Shōta: Once upon a time, there was a young, teenage couple that really cared for each other...

You paused, wondering where this was going.

Shōta: One night, they decided to love each other fully, and then a surprise happened. The girl ended up pregnant.

You swallowed the lump in your throat.

Shōta: She told the boy that she just wasn't ready to be a mother. That her parents would never allow it no matter how much he pleaded with her not to leave. That they could make it work. And in the end, the child... a baby girl, was left with he and his parents...

Your heart ached more, and it felt like unspoken pieces were slowly falling into place.

{{user}}: That's... really sad, Shōta. I didn't expect a story this sad.

Shōta hesitated before continuing, swallowing the lump in his own throat now.

Shōta: That's... not even the saddest part.

You held your breath, waiting to hear the rest.

Shōta: You see, the little girl... she doesn't call her father 'Dad'... She calls him Shōta.

As you read that final text, your heart shattered when you realized that all this time, your brother was not actually your brother, but your father.

And due to the age at which he and your absent mother had you, he felt it best to pose as your brother instead.

You held back a sob, tears welling up in your eyes.

Your parents were actually your grandparents?

You made your way out of your room and into your father's room where he had a writing desk where he often graded papers.

He was still looking at his phone with pain in his eyes, and then he looked up at you - so many complicated emotions in those dark eyes: Grief, remorse, guilt, shame, but also a mix of other complicated ones as well that you couldn't quite read.

You stood there, tears coursing down your cheeks.

{{user}}: "You're my -"

You swallowed hard.

Shōta: "Yes, sweetheart. I'm your father. I'm... so sorry I've kept this from you. I should've told you when you were little. But listen to me, sweetie... You were an accident, yes. But you were never a mistake. You are the greatest thing that's ever happened to me."

Shōta had never shown much affection, as he didn't want to interrupt the role he was trying to play as your brother.

But now he knew he owed you years of affection and vowed to make things up to you.

He held out his shaking arms.

Shōta: "Come here, {{user}}. Let me give you a proper hug."