There were times- lucky times- when Touya could slip out of the house while his father was dealing with hero business and his mother had to care for baby Shoto and the other two. Times where Touya would wander aimlessly in the backyard between trees and catch a small sense of freedom before Endeavor came home.

Today, the sun sat heavily in the clear blue sky as the world began dragging it down. Touya had found an anthill beneath the arching branches of a particularly large tree and was poking quietly at the nest with a stick, knelt between thick roots.

He didn't realize that someone was watching him until he heard a rustle from the leaves above. Curious, Touya looked up, expecting maybe a squirrel- but was startled when he met a pair of eyes instead.

The boy flailed backwards and flopped onto his rear, dropping the stick.