Chapter 12

The scent of simmering garlic and something savory hit me as I opened the front door. It was a familiar aroma, one that usually pulled a reluctant smile out of me. And there they were, Izuku, a whirlwind of earnest energy, and Mom, her face soft with a genuine happiness that was just as familiar. They were laughing, flour dusting Izuku's cheek as he helped her knead something in a bowl. It was a simple scene, but it resonated deeply within me. These were the moments I craved, the quiet, unpretentious snapshots of family that anchored me.

I kicked off my shoes by the genkan, the sound echoing softly in the otherwise bright space. "I'm home," I announced, my voice deeper than Izuku's, lacking that nervous tremor he sometimes had. Just a simple statement.

"Anos! Welcome back!" Izuku chirped, his smile widening at my presence. He had that determined glint in his eyes, the one that spoke of the sheer joy. It was still new to him, the power crackling beneath the surface of his skin.

Mom turned, her apron dusted with flour, and her smile mirrored Izuku's. "Welcome home, Anos. How was school?"

"It was fine," I said, offering a half-smile back. I wasn't one for theatrics; my emotions tended to run colder, less readily displayed. I told them, "I'm going to shower really quick." I didn't wait for a response as I needed to clear my head.

After that I went to shower and when i came out, my damp hair plastered to my forehead, i saw that Dad was there, which wasn't out of the norm since he was usually home from work by now. He had Mom by the waist, his face close to hers, probably whispering some ridiculous flirtatious nonsense that I really didn't want to think about. My face pinched slightly. It was enough to see Izuku chuckle, the sound warm and genuine. He found our parents' antics endearing. It was his way of seeing the beauty and love in everything, a quality I deeply admired.

"Shower time, old man," Mom said with a playful swat, pushing Dad towards the bathroom which he left to do with a laugh. He was a big kid at heart, really, easily amused.

Forty minutes later, the scent of dinner was even more intense. We all gathered around the table, a mismatched collection of plates and bowls, but to me, the very image of comfort. We ate, we talked, we laughed. Izuku excitedly recounted his day, his hands moving in sweeping gestures as he described his training with all might from this morning. Dad regaled us with his stories at work, each one more silly than the last, and Mom listened with a gentle smile that smoothed out all our sharp edges.

These moments, the ones where we were just a family, together, were the ones I lived for. It was a sharp contrast to the ever-present feeling of needing to protect them. The quiet moments that never were.

The night wound down. Izuku and I helped clear the table while Mom rinsed the dishes. We eventually all went our separate ways, Izuku to his room to work on his training notes, mom and dad relaxing in their room, while I made my way to my own. I settled into bed, pulling the covers up, when my phone buzzed with a text message.

Diamond: Hey, thanks for helping our class out today. Kaminari was terrified lol, but you talking to him actually made him feel better. You rock!

I let a small smile touch my lips. Diamond was my best friend and one of the only people who I actually opened up to. She was a firecracker, a force of nature, and my polar opposite in some ways. It was usually her brother, Denki, she was looking after but he sometimes relied on me.

Anos: You're welcome. He needed help. I sent back, keeping it short. I didn't need long, drawn out monologues, Diamond knew me well enough to understand my subtle gratitude.

A small, genuine smile crept onto my lips. These quiet moments of connection, the warm comfort of family, the unspoken understanding with Diamond - these were like precious gems, scattered amongst the chaos and responsibility of my life. I closed my eyes, the events of the day playing like a peaceful reel behind my eyelids and drifted off to sleep.