Being a “in the middle” type of MHA fan with Enji todoroki is complicated. Because I am not an apologist, what so ever however I think enjis relationship with Rei, Fuyumi and Toya is soo much more complicated. Because do I believe Enji abused those kids and his wife and was absolutely in the wrong? Oh, for sure.
However. Enji definitely is a lot more complex then “stupid arrogant abuser” title people put on him because one, that man is insanely intelligent and well informed. I genuinely think hes one of the smartest heros we see on the field.
But, more importantly, Enji, wasn’t just a shitty dad at first. He changed. That is a very vital point of the story, is yes, did he marry Rei for children eith quirks? Yes. But that was meant as a plan Z. It was something passive to invest in, incase he didnt reach his goals. And he treated Rei kindly, at the start for the most part, he respected her boundaries, he granted her wishes, he gifted her things. It doesn’t erase the start of the relationship, but Rei loved Enji. She thought she was doomed to a relative or wealthy man that would treat he awful, and in these years. She got a wealthy man, who was quiet just wanted one child from her, — and she always wanted multiple so she she chose to give him fuyumi — and he remebered what flowers she liked. It was sweet.
It’s why Toya and fuyumi cling to Enji so hard, because they remembered that. Natsuo was anywhere from an infant to a toddler when it started and shoto had never seen those days. Which is why they don’t get why Fuyumi and Toya care so much, but fuyumi and Toya remember when their dad used to make time for them, to watch them sleep, to talk casually with them.
Enjis sanity fell apart shortly before shoto was born, he was getting stressed and he knew he was aging and running out of time and his first heir was a “failure”.
Is that acceptable? No. Absolutely not. You can’t stop being an asshole because you didn’t get number one on a billboard, however he is still a lot more complex then “stupid idiot abuser who never once loved his kids.” He loves them. He cared when shoto and natsuo were in danger, he appreciates fuyumi and he was willing to die for Toya. It’s just his greed to be successful came first.
