The SUV rolled to a gentle stop on the gravel driveway, the faint crunch of gravel under the wheels signaling their arrival. Inko stirred from her light doze as Grandma Midoriya's voice broke through her sleep.
"Inko, wake up, dear," Grandma Midoriya gently nudged her shoulder.
"Mmm... Mother...?" Inko blinked sleepily, adjusting to the dimly lit surroundings. "We have arrived, haven't we?"
"Yes, dear," Grandma Midoriya nodded with a soft smile. "Please wake up Chisa and Izuku too."
Inko rubbed her eyes, dispelling the last remnants of drowsiness. She noticed that it was already dark outside. She tried to look at her watch, but it was too dark to make out what it was showing. So, she rummaged through her purse and brought out her phone—it was already 23:50, almost midnight.
Her father-in-law had already stepped out, deep in discussion with the movers about unloading their belongings. Her mother-in-law exited the car gracefully, heading over to the main house to start preparing things inside.
Turning her attention to the middle row seat, Inko saw Chisa sleeping peacefully, her head resting on Inko's lap. A fond smile graced Inko's lips as she observed her daughter's serene expression.
"Chisa, dear, wake up," Inko whispered softly, gently nudging her daughter.
Chisa stirred, blinking sleepily. "Are we there yet...?"
"Yes, sweetheart, we're here," Inko replied warmly, brushing a few strands of hair from Chisa's face. Though Chisa didn't show much outward excitement, Inko noticed a subtle sparkle in her eyes—a mix of curiosity and apprehension about their new home.
Inko was glad that her daughter was looking forward to their new home with her grandparents... but then she looked back to the back row seat of the car... and was startled by the sight of her son...!
Izuku was still on his laptop—still watching his new tokusatsu superhero shows...!
"Izuku...?!" she exclaimed in shock. She saw how his eyes were hyper focused on his laptop screen, gazing at it like it was his lifeline. Again, he didn't even hear that she had called his name loudly, continuing on with whatever tokusatsu show he was currently watching.
She began to remember the journey from Shizuoka to Aso. Izuku had been glued to his laptop, absorbed in his tokusatsu shows the entire time. The only moments he separated from it were for meals or bathroom breaks. Even then, he was as restless as someone with an addiction, rushing back to his laptop the instant he could to resume binge-watching.
She recalled that they had started their journey from Shizuoka at 07:00 in the morning. Now, it was 23:50—Izuku had been watching his shows for nearly seventeen hours!
Inko quickly got out of the car and opened up the middle row seat compartment to access the back row seat. She promptly climbed inside again to address her son. Grabbing hold of both of his shoulders, she called out, "Izuku!"
The sudden grip startled Izuku, making him almost yelp in surprise. The tightness of her hold added a hint of pain, jolting him further.
"M-mom?! What's wrong?!"
Inko saw the toll the binge-watching had taken on her son. Izuku's eyes were bloodshot and weary, the kind of exhaustion that came from staring at a bright screen for too long, especially in the dim light of the car...! His face was pale, shadows of fatigue etched under his eyes...
"Izuku..." she began, her voice a mix of worry and frustration. "You've been watching those shows non-stop. It's not healthy! You need to take a break!"
Izuku looked up at her, blinking rapidly as if trying to clear his vision. "I... I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't realize..."
Inko sighed, her anger dissipating into concern. "I know you inherited these shows from your father, but you can't let them consume you. It's not good for you to get so obsessed. I'm really worried about you..."
She doubted her decision to let him dive into his new obsession. Was it really a good idea to allow this? To let him escape into a world of fantasy instead of facing his own reality?
But then, something struck her. Despite the exhaustion on his face, there was a spark in Izuku's eyes that she hadn't seen in a long time...
It was a fire, a passion reminiscent of the days when he was just a normal superhero fan. This time, however, the fire burned even brighter...!
For a moment, Inko felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this newfound passion could help him heal, even if it was born from a place of grief and escape. But she knew it was a delicate balance. She had to find a way to nurture this passion without letting it become an obsession.
With a deep breath, she softened her tone. "I can see how much these shows mean to you, Izuku, and I understand why. But... you need to take care of yourself too, okay? Let's find a balance."
Izuku nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. "I understand, Mom. I'll try to take breaks..."
Inko nodded, relieved. "Good. Now, come on. Let's get you inside and have a proper rest. You've had a long day."
As they stepped out of the car together, Inko, Chisa, and Izuku found themselves staring at the house where they would be living from now on. The large, traditional wooden house stood proud against the night; its silhouette illuminated by the soft glow of the lantern-like lighting of the house.
For Izuku and Chisa, this was their first time seeing their grandparents' home, and their eyes widened in awe at the sight of the sprawling structure.
For Inko, the sight brought a wave of nostalgia. It had been so long since she last visited this place... her late husband Hisashi's childhood home.
Memories of happier times, family gatherings, and the warmth of the past filled her heart. This house was not just a building; it was a repository of memories, a symbol of continuity and new beginnings, not just for her... but also for her two children.
"Hisashi-kun... I'm home... " Inko whispered softly to her new home.
Together, they walked towards the house, ready to embrace whatever the future held for them.