C7: The Start Of Something, And The End Of Something
Since the meeting with the Yaoyoruzu family and their daughter Momo and after befriending her, Ina's life had become more lively. Since that day, aside from the biweekly excursions to the Yaoyoruzu's mansion to play with Momo or go shopping with her in one of the many megamalls under her family's control, Ina would spend time on herself, on her family and on her brother's friend, Izuku. The green broccoli had become her target for teasing as the other two options were too risky.
In Momo's case, she loved playing dress up, something Ina guessed she had gotten from her mom. On a majority of their shopping trips together, Ina was forced to act as a mannequin for Momo, which let her receive pitiful eyes from the maids accompanying them. From imported English suits to handcrafted single pieces from top clothing designers, Momo had them all and her eagerness to put Ina through all of that was commendable. Ina had no idea where such energy could be stored and how it was only released in fashion shows. Aside from the fashion show, something Ina really felt jealous about Momo was how much she ate and still remained thin by using her quirk. Momo had told Ina that the nutritionist and quirk specialist in her employment had taught her the trick, daily usage of the quirk in combination with physical activities like ballet and running around.
Different from Momo's lavish spending on shopping sprees and high-class meals, the time spent with her parents and brother was serene and peaceful (of course in comparison). They often had movie nights together at the weekends and went on holidays at her father's secret spots that she had no idea how he had known all of them. Her mother had taken on yoga classes and had tried to persuade Ina and Arai to do it with her. They agree, but by the 5th class, Arai dropped out, stating that he found the class boring. Ina lasted longer, only stopped going after the 12th class due to the coming primary school application test. Her mother made her stopped, asking her to learn more. (something Ina found troublesome as she was overqualified from all the self-study sessions she had already done behind their back, she believed )
Her friendly bouts with Deku was less constrained and much more enjoyable than expected. Izuku really shone in quirk analysis. Anyone passing, he could guess their quirks and derived a use for them. His keen insights despite the tender age of 5 really drove Ina mad at how anyone try to destroy his potential for the field for heroism. One notable example, was the one time he correctly deduced the function of the quirk of hero Magnetic ( he did not know the name had come from the quirk). He observed how the only objects floating around the hero were metals and his conclusion was "a telekinesis quirk only on metals". Observing a young Deku was like observing an early scientist explaining the world in his own way. The effort was what counted, not the answer. She doubted the fact that Izuku had not known the answer. She believed he had not narrowed it down more due to lack of information and a sense of competition between them. He remained the shy type around girl, but for Ina, he dropped his guards and started speaking eloquently someday, sounding more and more like her. She had had her suspicions, but now she had none.
Ina had wished for a more destructive interference; however, she found the idea of an altered Deku already a powerful enough play. The chessboard was still in its opening phase, and changing Izuku was her opening move.
Aside from guiding him down toward a different path, Ina had tried to improve his confidence. But to her surprise, Izuku admitted that he did not care for his quirkless status or other's perception of him. When asked about his childhood friend, Izuku returned a glare before turning away, believing that the question had been simply pure curiosity. He retold the story of how they had had a fight after his childhood friend began punching him, calling him name before they both had fought and had gone their own ways. The details remained lacking, but Ina could guess this had been Bakugo. Ina was surprised at how different this Izuku compared to the story, from the wimpy, ever crying and mentally weak portrayed. Instead, he remained steady in life, searching for alternative paths in the quirked society. The hint of admire and shock filled Ina's heart, like a mother watching her son's sudden mature remarks.
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After Ina turned 6
For now, her parents were preparing for Ina's admission to the same primary school as Momo, Akare Yaoyoruzu's daughter. The girl insisted on being at the same school as Ina and both parents wanted them to be paired together. After heavy discussions between the two families, the girls would go to the Hors de Série, one of the best school complex combining primary, secondary and tertiary education. The two main reasons for the decision was distance and education quality.
As Ina's parents, both Kenji and Asa were looking forward to seeing their daughter in the uniform. That scene would burn into their minds, remained there forever, they were sure of that. But now, they must prepared for the entrance exam (simple IQ tests papers and intelligent gauges).
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The Hors de Série was formed when a French educator had arrived in Japan and had built the school to meet the need of high-society children and parents. Just like the name suggested, the school was meant for those with extraordinary talents and hired many of the top educators not only in Japan but also across the world.
The first blocks, block A,B and C, remained in the past. They boasted traditional European-aristocratic aesthetics with marble statues and well-maintained hedges in their joined garden. The garden was a popular spot for resting and chit chatting with some older couples in sight. These blocks were dorms for those who studied in a boarding style and teachers alike.
The remaining blocks named from D to H were modernized constantly, aiming to improved learning quality and concentration. With almost a sci-fi touch to the core concepts, these blocks housed the classrooms for all grades, with the primary staying in block D.
Aside from all the above, the accommodation and services provided there were exquisite, afforded by the willingness of charitable individuals and board members. From the canteen with various dishes in different cultures, educating about the food around the world, to a gym complex with courts and equipment-for-hired.
To promote its value of treasuring only the talented and the rich (Ina disdained the philosophy but she could not show the hatred outward), there existed a scholarship for those they deemed worthy. The criteria remained non-disclosed, with no concrete paper trails, so Ina suspected the scholarship's purpose was to allow shadow investments to enter and learn, getting the knowledge and experience before returning under the employment of someone.
Ina, due to relative closeness to the school, opted out of the boarding option and took a 30-minutes bus ride home. She knew that her parents would appreciate she being there, interacting with them and keeping her younger brother in check.
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On one of their many evenings together watching Arai before the school year started, Ina opened up, asking Izuku whether or not he wanted to study together with her at her school. She further elaborated of a scholarship program for intelligent kids like her and Izuku. Initially shocked by Ina's offering, Izuku decided to refuse He claimed that for him, attending that school was like throwing a puppy off the bridge into the freezing water below. The environment would be hostile against those not in the elite circles, someone like him, and that he found no pleasure leaving his single mom working alone. He wished to be able to aid her when needed and Ina's school would hinder that. The result left a pouting Ina; but nevertheless, Izuku recognized the significance of the school and its material, so in one of his rare declaration of defeats, he begged Ina for the material and booklets there, leaving for him a copy to learn from.
Not understanding Izuku's thoughts regarding the matter, Ina questioned.
"Those things that you ask for, aren't they too insignificant for your knowledge? Won't they be useless to you, someone who is on par with me? "
"I can teach myself, yes. But my curiosity must be sated. It's not like the knowledge is exclusive there. The teachers and facilities may, but primary knowledge is quite accessible."
Said Izuku, hinting at the Internet and the many libraries on the
"What I want to learn is the exercises actually. I wanted to know the extent they will push students in there. And besides, I believe that you will definitely ... definitely have a great time doing all the work there. Isn't that right, Ina?
"No..."
"What about us two doing that together? Two geniuses are better than one genius. Of course the load will slightly increase due to my portion but we all know that the limiting factor is boredom, not capability."
Hearing the sly offer, Ina's mouth curved up, revealing a charming smile. She found no problem with the arrangement as the amount of time taken up by homework would break her schedules.
The two o of them quickly finished up the small details of how to contact one another and where to meet. The answers were unimaginatively simple, through Rine messaging and in a library somewhere both of them would decide late.
The deal signified the trust between them, an important thing for Ina. Ina also informed Izuku of her plan of learning martial arts. Without asking, Izuku accepted eagerly, stated that he trusted in her plans. He believed that she would find a qualified teacher that oversaw them and taught them. The two parted, going back home and doing their own things. As the school year drew closer and closer, they both missed dearly the free time they used to have.
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3 years time skip, Ina turned 9
With low expectations from the get go for the school, Ina found the 2 years spent there utterly boring except for a few highlights.
Classes, despite being much more difficult and specialized than the public ones, stayed sleep-inducing and tiring for Ina. She had already knew all of the things taught on the board, so for most of the time, after answering some basic questions from the teachers, she would take out her own things to work on. She was proud to admit that she had learned more about technical productions from the book series she brought from home.
At the sight of group of interests fighting over a lot of the things, Ina was truly happy that Izuku had not decided to enter. She heard from him that he had entered a close-by primary school where he had found a lot of new friends. Compared to here where she only got a friend, Momo, and her two lackeys trailing behind like hyenas waiting for the lion to finish feasting. Due to her lackluster personality to the topics going around in class, she was left alone in a lot of matter like parties and invitations to meet-ups(she didn't care one bit) and became the almost-loner of the class.
For Momo, it was the opposite. She found a lot of new friends after Ina. Ina still remained her best friend though as she demanded nothing from the friendship. On the opposite, Ina even helped Momo free of strings. Whenever Momo had difficulties in understanding the material and asked for her help, Ina would earnestly support the girl, covering the knowledge again and pointed out mistakes in the papers. That occurred enough times for Ina to gain the title "Sensei" from classmates. That pushed Ina into the limelight as lacking students seek her for her wisdom. Ina had to escape and hid who knew where during breaks.
Another strange thing that occurred was that Momo seemed to enjoyed being patted on the head as a "well done" statement. This had caused Ina to receive a weird look from Akare, though after his daughter's explanation the look had reduced.
One upside of the school was its meal. Rich, flavorful for the most part, and nutritious, they were energy packeted in the most efficient and tasteful form under the hands of nutritionists and professional chefs. Ina believed that the food there would receive a two-star Michelin recommendation and a thousands dollar price tag.
One of Ina's favorite activity after lunch time was sneaking onto the rooftop and having a high vantage view across the entire school. The door wasn't locked per say, but the teaching faculty had prohibited the action. Ina had hidden snacks up there during the first year, but reflecting on how often she had eaten them (never), she threw them all away. The feeling of being above everything drew out something instinctual in Ina, covered her with a sticky feeling of control. The feeling of being free, to be unrestrained by the rules and others' eyes excited Ina. But Ina still felt a bit lonely up there, wishing for something, or someone in particular to be there with her and observe the scene. She was sure he would share the same feeling. As she was day dreaming, the bell would toll, signifying an end to the blissful time up the rooftop. She ran down the stairs away from the sights of upperclassmen and teachers and got back to her homeroom seconds before the second chime would end the lunch break.
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In an evening meetup
While playing with Izuku bushy broccoli hair, Ina suggested both of them signing up for a dojo to learn martial arts. She knew that Izuku, a quirkless person, needed that lessons and how difficult it would be on his budget. She offered a surprising gift for him. She would pay for the lessons and he must learn with her at her chosen place.
" The offer is too good to be true. Why are you so good to me? Where did the real Ina go? She would have picked on me already."
" You silly bastard. I offered you that because I find you interesting, and as a friend, seeing you being ignored and defenseless makes me annoyed. So to ensure you can continue being my friend, I decided to help you learn self- defense, simple? Besides, I know your family. You told me yourself on how much you want to enroll in a dojo yet not wanting to burden your mom more. "
" Than-thank you... I will not forget that." Izuku said, scratching his cheek as his ears turning sunset from embarrassment and look at Ina with a glint of appreciation. She remembered a random wish he uttered years ago and fulfilled it now.
" And also, playing with you is fun, unlike other kids. You are smart, friendly, considerate and know how to pacify Arai. That is enough for me."
Ina continued, then turned her eyes straight at Izuku. Two pairs of pupils, one green and one red, faced one another, each one relentless and unyielding. A silent minute passed, the staring contest stopped when the two decided to continue their activity of watching Arai playing in the sandpit nearby. Ina remained emotionless watching the wreckage her brother in caused while Izuku fanned his face in the residual heat of the evening.
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Later that night
The family was enjoying their meal time with a cheerful atmosphere. On the table, four bowls of udon and a large dish of shrimp and vegetable tempura lied smoking hot. They were chatting, telling how their day was. Her dad was droning on and on about his businesses while her mother was eagerly paying attention to. Ina and her brother were silently eating, speaking only asked. Ina prepared herself, ready to ask the question.
"Mom, Dad, can I attend some martial art classes?"
The chatter died down immediately, with three pairs of eyes locking onto her.
"Why the need to attend, Ina? It is pretty safe here and heroes patrolling the area all the time. I see no reason for you to learn martial art. "
"But Mom, I really want to learn martial art together with my friend. She is very poor and I want to help pay her tuition too. Think of it as an early birthday gift. "
Hearing the absurd demands and retorts, her mom was angry, but could only direct the conversation to her husband. She was sure her husband would side with her.
"Ask your dad then, Ina Mineru, ask him whether or not he allows it. If he said yes, then I will allow it."
" Uh ... I see no need for you to learn martial arts. And about your friend, the money will be taken from your monthly allowance if you allow it. But why do you want to do that? Answer honestly, Ina. "
Determined to win him over, Ina faked a blush of embarrassment and slight fidgeting. Ina ended the argument with an admission and a stereotypical reason from a girl.
"OK! I want to learn martial art because it looks cool and makes me fit!"
Suddenly faced with an outburst from a normally calm daughter, both parents remained dumbfounded. Seeing that look on their faces, Ina continued attacking relentlessly.
"I think I am becoming fatter and I want to lose weight while learning something helpful with my friend. That are the reasons! "
Facing the reasoning, especially from his daughter really dropped her dad between a rock and a hard place.
"I suppose... Ina can go learn martial art. I will find a suitable trainer for her, so just let her do it, Asa. There is no big benefits, yes, but no harm either. Let me ask my contacts for a friend who owned a gym. They will know what to do."
"Fine, let her do her thing. Ina, I am allowing you if you are committed to this, are you really?"
"Yes!"
Both parents, knowing how easily bored she was with things not going her ways, permit her. They thought that the soreness after training, the muscle ache the day after and the sweat sticking to her her skin would deter Ina. Oh how much would they regret if knowing that Ina's lie about the friend.
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After school, a week later
After grouping with Izuku, they were strolling to the place. Ina didn't have a lot of expectations for the dojo. In her mind, it was the teacher that mattered. "The Oni", that was the man's hero name. Ina had spent hours scouring the Internet to only receive a few news outlets discussing the man, something that only worked, Ina realized much later, if the man was an underground hero, the kind that rather fight dirty and bloody in the dark than give respect to the opponent in the light. And if not, one of her dad's many contacts and professionals.
"So he is an underground hero. "
Both Izuku and Ina reached the same conclusion. There was a race between them to guess which type of hero the man they were learning from had been, and the result was a tie. As they walked to the given address, they chattered about the expectations they had for the trainer. Time passed and the two arrived in front of a broken down building with a LED gym sign missing an "m". Double checking the address and asking the surroundings for the description of the owner, Ina reluctantly walked inside the seemingly abandoned place with Izuku tailing her. Not seeing any light switches from the residual light, Izuku almost shouted the man's name before a deep, manly voice came from within the darkness.
"You kids, are you the ones signing up? "
"Yes, we are. Are you the one dad introduce me to? "
Suddenly, an oppressive aura weighed both Ina and Izuku down. Their instincts screaming at the loudest volume, demanding that they ran from there. Every fiber of their being drenched in primal fear against the voice, the man. Ina jumped back, hid behind Izuku while he stepped up, guarding.
As suddenly as the whole event string had begun, it ended. A crisp, refreshing laughter rang loud, easing the tense atmosphere before.
" Still here? You got guts! My name is Baki Hanma, the Oni, or the Orge. They were my names, now I am only a Hanma. Your father asked me to train you lot up, give you lessons in martial arts, and teach you discipline. "
" Hanma- sen..."
"Call me sensei after today. I haven't teach you anything yet. Come inside and we will do something fun first. "
His calm smile sent shiver down their spines, but they had no other choices except following him into the gym.
That was the first meeting with their martial art teacher, and the beginning of their suffering. He pushed them plus ultra since day one with comprehensive training from endurance, agility to burst strength and willpower, leaving them a creaking mess every session.
October 5th, 6:21 PM
Sitting in a Family Mart in one of the busier sections of the city were Izuku and Ina. After being kicked from the " hell" they signed up together (Hanma-sensei had said they had outdone themselves and should take a rest) , they were sweaty, tired and bored. Ina, in her graceful generosity, bought ice cream for both of them. They silently ripped the packaging apart and started shoving their faces into the cold delights. Izuku, with a smudge if chocolate mint ice cream on his lip, asked Ina.
" What is the score now? 3-3 or 3-2? I forgot. "
" 3-2. The last time you guessed his quirk quicker than me. I will take my revenge on you someday, just wait. "
Mumbling Ina with a red bean cream sandwich to her face. They both were killing time with their quirk-guessing game, something only the likes of them could come up with. Their rules were simple, guess faster and prove it to the opponent. The game lasted until both grew bored of the thing. Feeling the awkwardness of the dead air, Ina piloted the conversation to Izuku's attempt in accelerated study.
" All went fine actually. The lessons and schoolwork have been relaxing to say the most. "
" I know it. Your brilliance will never find these snacks adequate. Just like me! "
Seeing Izuku's eyes rolling at her self-compliment, Ina could only smiled in annoyance before giving him a kick to the knee. Both of them had gotten used to the opponent's antics and they were comfortable being themselves.
Seeing Izuku's mother carrying groceries on the sidewalk, Ina directed Izuku's vision to the side, and offered.
" What about helping your mother? And also, can I crash at your house this time? "
" Sure....WHAT ?! Why are you asking to come to my place? "
" My parents plan to take my brother to his friend's birthday party and their sleepover party. My parents also want to have their private time together, just consider it as their late anniversary. They will surely wake up somewhere indecent, I'm sure of that. And because they trust me so much, they even give me some allowance and the house key. "
Ina, wriggling the keychain she took from her pocket before putting it back, continued.
" So just for tonight, I am alone in my house and frankly, I want to push more works onto you. Of course, with my boundless kindness, I will help you doing it with my physical self. Do you really want to leave me all alone at night? "
Facing the sudden logic, Izuku relented.
" Just let me ask her, I am not sure if she will allow it. "
" Just be ambiguous. Say something like my friend's parents will be busy tonight and they want to come stay with us for dinner. Surely she will agree"
Knowing his mother's kindheartedness and her excitement in meeting his only friend ( he was a loner, he knew it already, no need to rub fresh lemon juices into the wounds) , Izuku sighed before trudging over, engaged in a conversation before trudging back, nodding his head.
" Just write down your address. I will come after taking of my things. Maybe around 7 P.M."
After giving away his home location, Izuku bid farewell and left, 2 loaded bags of grocery on each hand, together with his mom.
Ina then walked home, prepared her personal items, put them into her backpack (the black, mature one), locked the doors and windows before leaving toward the afternoon address.
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Inko Midoriya was having an excellent day. The new boss at her workplace promoted her, raising her meager wage. Aside from that, her little boy would bring his friend home for the night. She had always been worries of his antisocial personality but now she was awed at him bringing a friend home already. Inko's goodwill also stemmed from the fact that that same friend was learning martial arts together with her little son and they even offered to pay for his spot. In her eyes, her family had nothing to offer, so seeing such generosity signified the friend was a good person.
While finishing up 3 bowls of tonkatsu, Inko heard the doorbell ringing. The sound brought her back from the memories, and she paced quickly, ready to meet Izuku's first friend.
Expecting a boy, Inko was surprised when standing in front of her house was Ina. Thinking that the girl was lost, Inko was just about to inquire where her parents were before Ina greeted.
" Hi Midoriya-san, Izuku invited me over to his place. Can I get inside? "
" Ye-yes you c-can dear. Izuku is up-upstairs."
Ina changed into indoor slippers before charging inside and running up the wooden stairs.
Seeing that her son brought back a girl, Inko was understandably surprised and could not believe how he had done it. The girl had long black hair, currently tied in a pony tail that reached passed the shoulder blade and an intricate hair pin in the smooth bed of black. Her eyes, mischievous they were, shone with red brilliance and her skin, white as January snow. She was half a head shorter than Izuku, and she was an eye candy to anyone that wasn't blind. Her clothing was simple yet elegant, aiding the beauty in it. From the sheen and the smoothness of the fabric, Inko knew that the thing would cost an entire year of her wage. Beside the point, she was mature, polite and caring enough to keep the floor clean.
"My son really brings back a girl! A beautiful and rich one at that! I didn't know my son was such a womanizer ... Maybe we will need a talk afterward about it. "
With a contempt smile, Inko returned to the kitchen and got back to finishing the dinner, leaving Izuku and Ina alone for the time.
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Standing in front of Izuku's bedroom, Ina knocked, not caring one bit about the situation inside.
The first knocks, no response came out.
The later knocks, growing louder and louder, but never raised any response.
Just before Ina started subjecting the poor wooden door to more violent impacts, the hinges creaked letting out a metallic moan. Izuku stood there in the evening clothes, his hair a crown nest, half-awake while rubbing his eyes.
" Were you taking a nap? "
" Ye... Yes, you here already? What time is it? Just go downstair and give me a few minutes. "
The door shut in Ina's face, and heeding the demand, Ina went down and sat at the table.
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Seeing Ina coming down alone, Inko knew that Izuku had been napping and didn't answer the knocking so loud even she could hear from down here.
"So Ina-chan, how did you two become friends?"
Inko asked, curious about the circumstances that had led to her son befriending such a special girl. Sensing the questioning tone, a curious one rather than interrogating, Ina answered honestly.
"How to begin ... so my little brother met Izuku at one of the merch giveaway for All Might. They quickly became friends and one time he brought him to me at a park. Since then we have been good friends with one another as we find out later how similar we are. That is basically it. "
Hearing the coincidental meeting and the happenings afterward, Inko breathed a sigh of relief. In her heart possessed slight doubt toward Izuku's friend. No one would suddenly appear and start paying for a part of her son's tuition. She was afraid if a child predator or children trafficker was aiming their blade at her little Izuku, building up trust before taking away her only joy.
"Let me bring you something to eat, I have already made a bowl of tonkatsu for you. "
"Thank you Midoriya-san, the smell already tells me how delicious the food will be."
The praise gave Inko a good laugh and she
"Have you begun eating yet? I haven't seen the dishes and plates."
A timely butt-in. Izuku walked down, dragged a chair for himself and plopped on it.
"No, we have finished the meal and cleaned the table already. What took you so long? We were waiting for ages and your tonkatsu has already turned soggy!"
" Really?! What a bummer. I can just go buy a pack of ramen for dinner. Wanna join, UmI can buy you a drink? "
Inko, who was in the kitchen and obscured from her son's sight, crackled a bit at how easily fooled her son was. The girl, Inko had to admit, had little Izuku around her finger. But seeing Izuku really got up and prepared to go out, Inko had to spill the beans and carried out 3 bowls of teriyaki fried pork cutlets.
"So you dare to trick me huh? Maybe I will escort you home now before getting to my dinner. "
"Sorry sorry, and it's not like you want to kick me out of your house. Your sense of chivalry and righteousness will chained you down, prohibiting you doing it. "
" There is a battle between the urge to turn you away and the intelligent to not. I hate to inform you that the former is winning. "
" As if, you are grinning already. Just a bit more and you will smile. Stop acting as if you are hurt!"
The meal continued in the back-and-forth between the two. They were so engrossed in their own world that they ignored the look Inko was giving them. Only when she stood up, intentionally loud did the two ate with haste, gobbling up the meal.
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" Midoriya-san, can I help you with the dirty dishes? "
" Yes you can, but why are you asking? "
" You do not really need to do that, Ina. "
"Etou ... I have eaten dinner at your place and is going to use the bathroom to wash myself. I just want to do something to thank you. "
" What about washing up with me? We can let him clean himself later. "
Inko, eyeing Izuku, suggested. She was initially surprised at how carefree Ina was with her son around, but she latter attributed that to them being children despite their mature tones and thoughts.
Ina quickly accepted the offer and after washing all the dishes, the girl and the older woman now found themselves sitting in the steamy, commercially available bathtub. They soaked their hair a bit before Inko washed Ina's hair for her as the hair as too long when let down freely.
" What do you find interesting about my son, Ina-chan?"
Inko asked while slathering hair conditioner onto Ina's top.
Ina, not having eyes on her backs and not seeing Inko's motherly smile, responsed.
" I find him interesting. His quirk analysis hobby aside, since the first day I met him, I felt like we would become closed. Just a feeling basically. "
Grinning at herself, Inko finished up Ina's hair before letting her take care of her ien body. She then started washing herself too.
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" Must I see folders of your homework right after a bath? "
" Feel grateful that you don't have to take them out yourselves. They were quite heavy even for me? And what was it that you swore? Please remind me. "
" Just... give me the pen, the green on near ... "
A green pen was thrown in Izuku's direction. He barely caught it, tightening his grip just before the pen slipped past and collided with the walls. Looking at the thrower on his bed, Izuku could see Ina, with her damped hair and clean clothes, lying face dowd and swinging her slender legs up and down. As aa room for a loner that had only a wall-mounted desk, a chair and a bed and some shelves sparsely filled with All Might items, from an alarm clock with his eye browns to a plushie the size of a basketball, they used rock-paper-scissors to decide the seating arrangement and the result was as above. They started dilligently filling in the homework, not forgetting to discuss if issues arose.
Only at 9:34 PM did the two wrapped everything up. Bored and out of activity, Ina suggested watching a movie on TV in the living room. She wanted to read more, but a yawning Izuku deterred that thought. She was here to spend leisure time with Izuku as promised and the prospect of going back into reading didn't fire her up. So the movie it was.
Dragging a half-asleep Izuku and plopping him down beside her on the sofa, Ina asked him what to watch for the night. He bursted awakae when Ina's head touched his thighs.
"W-Wh-what are yo-you doing?! "
" Waking you up and letting you touch my hair freely. Or I can do the reverse, your choice. "
Silent from how nonchalant Ina was, Izuku could only resigned his fate to the gods. Ina randomly selected a film, Izuku and her watched until the end and repeated. After the third one, both of them had already fallen asleep on the sofa. Inko, awoke from all the noises look at the two and started taking photos quietly. The time would be remembered fondly.
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The next morning, Ina set out toward her empty house at around 5 o'clock in the morning, beside her was Izuku walking. She had rejected the offer for breakfast but couldn't resist Inko's demand for Izuku to take her home. The two was observing sunrise in the early cold, regretting not bringing a scarf.
" Did you have a good time at my place?
Still fixed on the horizon, Izuku asked.
" Ya. I enjoyed myself at your place a lot. "
" But Izuku, did you notice? "
"Notice what specifically? "
" Your mom took our photo last night while both were asleep. "
" REALLY?! And how did you know? "
" The previous statement was a lie. You know my quirk. Guess what happened yourself. "
" You .... ah, just let it go. She took them just because she wants to tease me later. She is surely surprised at your presence in my puny friend circle. "
"...."
" Why are you not responding Ina? Something wrong? "
" Let drop the pretenses, shall we?"
Ina replied coldly, her eyes followed every movement of Izuku. She knew the topics ought to be addressed. She was suspicious that Izuku was a reincarnated person and vice versa. She faced Izuku, staring at him. Her eyes narrowed down, akin to a predator ready to jump. She was not smiling anymore, and Izuku had no clue what she wanted. He looked around, realizing he had been led to a less crowded junction of the city. Right on his side was an alley, dark and cramped, ready to witness the coming conflicts.
"Wh-w-what pre-pretense? I have shared all of my embarrassing secrets to you all. From my obsession with All Might in the past to even my weaknesses. What else are you asking for? "
"Stop beating around the bush. You know yourself clearly what I am talking about. A hint may help you express it out. "
Ina steeled up, bringing her arms up and tightened the muscles. Her left leg took a step back, bringing her body from horizontal into vertical plane. She was ready for a fight against him, Izuku knew it. In response, he tensed up, using Ina's bag, the one he was carrying, as a shield. His arm, hidden behind the rucksack, pressed onto his chest, ready to be jabbed like a rocket.
"Have you ever considered our oddities? Not even a moment?"
Cold sweats formed on Izuku's back as he listened to the question. He knew what she was talking about, the same doubt he possessed about her. Others might find Ina's maturity a welcome surprised, but not Izuku. In his eyes, both she and him were the same kind, reincarnated as he believed. Still treasuring the friendship they had, he decided to come out clean, to appease her and get the conversation going toward a peaceful resolution.
" The answer is yes. Yes, I am a reincarnated person! And I am your ally! So please calm down. "
Ina silently gazed Izuku's body language, trying to figure out whether or not he had truthfully admitted the core secret of his being as the answer had come out so ... easily. Dropping her guard and relaxing her body, Ina admitted to Izuku.
" Same... "
Silent tension lingered between them before being dispelled by Ina's crackle. Izuku gave her a look of bewilderment. The interrogation had been a tad too simple and over too fast, even in his standards. Waiting for Ina to finish laughing, Izuku decided to make the first move defending.
" I am sorry for keeping that from you. I know that you had to trust me a lot to stay on friendly terms with me. So now do we talk about our past lives and shared our secrets or something? "
"No, of course not, Izuku. That matter remains for the future"
Having calmed herself down, Ina reply.
"There will be opportunities for that later on. Now we must go our separate ways. "
" Is that mansion there your home? I am impressed at how rich your family is. Tell me honestly, what does your dad do to be that wealthy? "
"He is a businessman with more then usual the amount of stocks and favors across different companies."
Receiving the answer for his poor attempt at restarting a conversation, Izuku nodded absent-mindlessly. He still remembered what his tasks were: accompanying Ina to the front door and bidding her farewell. Just before he left, he could feel a tap on the shoulder. It seemed she had something more to say. Turning back, Izuku was ambushed by a cheek kiss from Ina. She closed in, hugged him and whispered in his ears. Her dampened breath turned the things beetroot red. Izuku could feel his heart bumping faster, his face heating up.
" Me being friend with you, that is not a lie. I always care for you."
After saying her line, Ina separated from Izuku, her face plastered with a smile. She sent him back, shutting the gate in Izuku's face. Izuku's mind was a mess even after getting back home leading to him lying to his mother about what had transpired. His mind was still on cloud nine, savoring the soft sensation of her lips and the fragrance of her hairs. He was sure she was the same, with her cheeky smile plastered on her face seeing Izuku wobbling back to his house.
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The following months, up until 25th May.
As time rolled on, they had shared more about the past lives they had always hidden as time went on.
From Ina came a white lie. She described herself in the past as a pretty 19-years-old teenager with similar characteristics to the current body, working around in libraries helping others. That, she claimed with fervent determination, was the reason why she had been so good to Izuku. Her death, was in a car accident due to her carelessness.
A far cry from the truth but she had come to love her family here more than the religious one in the past. Her new life brought with it new feelings and new connections that she now openly embraced. She feared that by telling everything, she would remove herself from this blissful paradise. She didn't want to be dragged back into the frozen water that had drowned her. She didn't want to be confined in the punishment room again. Kudos to Izuku as he seemed to read the line well enough to not ask more questions.
From Deku come the truth, the bitter one where being deaf would be a blessing. He told Ina that the him in the past was pathetic, a lone loser who couldn't save anyone and disfigured himself carrying his mother's dying body out from a burning building. His mother, he claimed, could have been alive if not for the healthcare insurance from the UHC being denied on account of late payment (an impossible feat as his mother had paid a day before the accident.)
Izuku admitted that since that day, despite how many therapy sessions he attended, he remained hollow. No grandiose dreams in that life, only aimless wander for survival after going bankrupt from medical debt. The uncaring cityscape took his mother away but gave him his black cat Nero (the name, a blatant irony, he had known it). The two spent a few years travelling around through hitchhiking before the old cat had to be buried. On the journey, any shred of goodness was thrown away in a desperate act of survival. From pickpocketing to illegal fighting in underground rings, from lockpicking to thief, his hands were tainted.
His death was uneventful, just a car accident of some rich snobs speeding at maximum speed in a residency area, endangering a neighbor's kid that he sacrificed himself for. The kid's parents had been kind to him, so he repaid them by saving their kids. He knew his death would have had a small meaning somewhere, but he didn't care. No one would remembered that a "Izuku" had existed then, only that family would.
"And that was my life before. Interesting, yes? I was around 25 at the time, what about you? "
"23, my body was exhausted and a car hit me while I was not paying attention."
Dead air filled the gap between them. They knew what to say next, what will push things forward yet they did not want to. Seeing that the area around them had no one else beside the two, Ina inquired Izuku about his purpose the essentials for their relationship.
"You are pushing yourself so hard in this life, to protect your mother, right? "
"Ya... Not only her, but you too if needed. To be honest, I find my mother ... weak and unfortunate . A single mom with no inheritance, not connections in this backward society only spells tragedy. Despite all that, she never stopped working to take care both of us. She has nothing special nor heroes backing her up, but she is resilient. She has become her own hero throughout the years and she has become my hero too. If a hero is someone who can bring a smile to the despaired in hard times, than we are each other heroes. I don't care much about random strangers that would turn throw me out adter I served my use, so villainy and shit not being targetted at my friends and loved ones are enough, the rest could deal with it themselves. "
" Enough yapping about me. So about you. Why ... "
"Similar reason, but, uh, why are we discussing such dark topics on such a sunny day. We should enjoy ourselves and temporarily forget all that heavy stuffs on our back. "
Ina spread her arms out, waving it around like an excited child and making Izuku laughed from the silliness in the process. He stood up and patted Ina's on the head, ruffling her hair; the mood lightened between them.
"That is true. So wanna go for a walk? "
"Walk where? Back my house? "
" Yes. Stop being annoying and get up already. Sunset is coming and I don't want to worry your family. "
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In June during the first school year's summer break.
Summer heat rose suddenly in Musutafu due to the recent heat wave. The temperature had melted people's will to work as all over the city people slacking off in air-conditioned rooms or enjoying themselves in the malls could be seen. Everyone unitedly wished for one thing and one thing only, for the heat to give away to cooler weather.
"How hot can it even get? "
"I don't know, just hope not hotter. "
Izuku and Ina discussed the current weather, walking from Hanma-sensei's place. After a heavy training session in this heat, Hanma-sensei had to let them leave early before the heat turned worse. He feared that his butt would be chewed on by the two families and urged them to go back quickly.
"We won't be meeting this often in the summer."
Ina said, her face showed a touch of loneliness. Her eyelids curved down and her nose crunched, displaying a sorrowful expression. Izuku knew she was acting.
"Can I ask for the reasons? "
"Summer vacation. Dad decided that the whole family would travel northward to escape the heat. He aims to get to Hokkaido by driving despite rich enough to purchase airplane tickets. Something about a man's romance and wanting to use the dust-collecting driver license."
" Why so unhappy, it's not like you will miss this poor friend of yours. You will probably enjoy yourself at some sight-seeing spots and forget me. Maybe you will return and will scream "Stranger!" at my face, slap me and call the police. "
"Stop with the joke! I will miss talking with you and playing your detective games. Fine?! So do you want any souvenirs, I can buy you something cheap? "
"Not really, but have a great time there!"
Izuku said before turning into Nagahito street, leaving Ina to walk back alone.
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The trip had gone on for 10 hours, reaching the mountainous section of the terrain. The scenery covered with a tapestry of darkness alienate the travelers and the world around. In a car travelling at approximately 60 km/hour, Ina was watching the outside blackness. With her mother and brother asleep like logs, only her father and she remained awake.
" So Ina, about your friend..."
"Yes dad? Why are you asking? "
Giving a sharp glare through the rear mirror, Ina spoke, her voice laced with coldness under a normal tone.
"No, nothing, I was just about to ask you to bring your friend home. I heard "she" ... But he, ... this is fine too. "
Missing his mutter, she made a hmmm, ending the conversation.
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When the car reached 100 meters before a sharp turn, Ina's hair stood up straight, a sense of foreboding dread set in her core. She could have a feeling of being observed, being watched so close by yet having no idea where the gaze came from.
"Brake! Brake! Why isn't the brake working ?!"
Woken up from the noise, her mom and brother asked what was wrong. They thought that the issue was just a small one and a quick fix could get it running. Before they got the answer, the car swerved right but it was already too late. The car hit the barricade hard and flung itself down the cliff below.
Ina only had a few second to think before the impact came.
"Fuck me. "
Then, a loud crash happening in the middle of the night with no one being the witness of the accident except for the celestial bodies high above the clouds and a forest beneath the cliffs.
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Ina woke up, her head aching and her body sore. Touching the hair, she could feel a sticky feeling on her fingertips and bringing it to her face, a rusty smell filled her nostrils. She felt disorientated, as if upside down. No, she was actually upside down. The car had made contact with a lot of branches so the shock had been reduced. Looking around, all the other three had been knocked unconscious and she could feel hotness at the front.
"No, the engine..."
Ina hastily removed her seatbelt, careful not to bump her head on the way down. Luckily, the side windows were broken, letting her out. She checked herself first. No bone breaking, no joints dislocating, only scratches, bruises around the shoulders and a bleeding head. Finishing checking her injuries, Ina turned back, crawled in and dragged the three unconscious out.
She dragged her brother out first as he was the lightest. His lips were bloody, his teeth had bitten into them. He must had hit his head somewhere, hard, as blood streamed on his face and draining the pink of living out of him. His breathing remained steadily weak, maybe from internal injuries
Next up was her mother. Her arms broke shielding the two of them. They turned a sickly purple from the impacts with uncanny softness and some spots suffered from inflammation. Ina had to drag her out carefully by the shoulders after tying her arms together to prevent further damages. Ina didn't dare to check more, fearing her mother would wake up and feel all the pain.
Last came her dad. Sitting at the front and faced the impact, he suffered the most. All over his face was cuts from the flying shards. His nose bent unnaturally to a side while bleeding profoundly. His pulse was unlively, but it was still there. The heat from the engine in the front left him with some minor burns around the head and hands.
Outside lied three people on spare clothes and covered with them. Ina managed to salvage the clothing from the suitcases in the back. Now she sat down on the dirt, leaning on a tree trunk to remain straight. She was too exhausted from moving her family out and the hemorrhage on her head. Ina was cold and tired. Her breath labored and sweats formed on her skin not only from the heavy toll but also the heat from the car engine.
Ina had tried to search for a basic medic kit from the car but the heat was too much for a tired girl and she didn't find any. The only thing she could find was already in her hand. In her hand lied a phone that she picked up from the side seat of the car. The screen cracked due to the collision, but it was still functional to her relief. Turning on the screen, she pressed the side and power button, began calling for emergency. The phone was on standby for a few seconds before a female voice could be heard.
"How may I help? "
"Car ac...cident... off the cli...ff ... Iya highw...ay... Ha...fuku, Fou...four peo...people ...thre..e ...out ."
Ina tried her best to speak clearly, but all that came out was disconnected fragments. Looked like her vocal cords was damage somehow during the fall. She could now feel the wetness inside her throat, a sticky metallic taste, and she wanted to vomit it out yet unable to.
"Can you still hold on the phone? Stay awake, emergency services will come soon. "
Sensing the urgency of the incident, the correspondent called for the necessary departments before urging Ina to remain awake.
Hearing the stereotypical response, Ina lost herself in despair. She knew that the description she had given was too vague, and before she could add more, the phone shut down. The battery was kaput. Who know how long the ambulances would arrive? And even then, carrying all 4 people would require a suitable devices or quirks. The situation was not in her favor. No, it was in death's favor.
Lost in her thought, Ina suddenly feel that something was wrong. Aside from the gut feeling before the accident, this time, it was something from the very core of her presence ... of her reincarnation. Looking up toward the sky, everything had frozen without her knowledge and around her, a sharp, crunchy sound of something breaking was getting closer and closer. A few seconds later, she felt something hit her. The impacts left her gasping on the ground, her soul shook to the very core. Closing her eyes and taking a breath, Ina felt something hot making it way into her left index finger. It made the whole journey to every inches of her body, making she felt as if she was being burned alive. The searing pain jolted her from the shock and in her surprise, she could see something new.
Encase in a floating rectangle before her were those words.
[ Would Host accept this System?]
[ Yes/No]
[Reward: 3 Healing Liquid Vial (Enough for a dive off a cliff)]
Like a drowning person suddenly got a swimming float, Ina immediately tried to choose [Yes]. However, her finger stopped right before it touched the option. Her brain started running at maximum capacity, determining the impacts of this option. From the writing, she knew that the one responsible for the status would be the one who had brought her here. There had always been a trade hidden somewhere with that being, her gut feeling screamed so. She was afraid of what it would take from her, but she threw all of that out the window. They needed medical help right now, not 5 minutes nor half an hour late.
With resolution filling her entire being, she choose [Yes]. From thin air dropped three small 10ml vials into her laps. Their tops were corks made from a strange wood Ina had no idea about, the liquid inside was a vibrant red, a bit thicker than water and possessed an impossible shine. She had betted everything on her choice and she would go with it till the end. She uncorked each bottles, bringing it to her loved ones lying on the ground and let them drink carefully to prevent spilling.
Their body shined up for a moment before their wounds started healing. All the bleeding closed in real time, the bruises dispersed as if they weren't there. The breathing returned to normal. Before Ina could breath a sigh of relief, something popped up onto her field of vision.
[Ready for your part?]
Ina slumped down, her muscle ached and twisted beyond normalcy. She felt as if the very foundation of her was being twisted, bent, shaped into something else. Her head throbbed so badly she wished she could remove it from her body. The area around her had turned scarlet and brooding, reminding of that of a horror scene.
Tiredness and pain surged, and before she knew it, her eyelids dropped, leaving Ina all alone in the darkness.