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Dozens of boxes litter the apartment, packed and sealed.
“Hisashi!” Inko stands her ground, as trembling as her breath is, with clenched fists. “I just don’t understand why you have to fly halfway across the earth-”
The man sighs as he moves more boxes onto the large dolly for the movers to take down to the truck. “Inko. I can’t afford to let this chance pass me by, I thought you understood that. You know how much my career means to me.”
“Yes, but can’t you just try again to get onto the hero commission here in Tokyo?” Inko tries to reach through the tense air between herself and her husband. “Or can’t I go with-”
A coldness freezes the air around Hisashi as he moves his hand away from her’s. “No. I don’t have the financial means to do that. You stay here. I don’t have the time to wait on the Japanese hero commission. This is the only way I can advance.”
“I can work a double shift or I can get another job-” Inko feels tears well up in her eyes as she watches Hisashi collect the rest of his belongings. “You don’t have to leave. You could stay here, with me and I can support the both of us! You can take as much time as you need to-”
Hisashi inhales before turning to Inko, hints of rue written across his expression. “Inko, I’m sorry.”
And with that, Hisashi closes the door behind him, leaving Inko feeling numb. The apartment feels much bigger, and much colder. Inko leans back against the door and slowly slides down, curling in on herself as tears stream down her face. She feels stranded in the vast ocean of the world. Lost and alone.
Crying much louder than her own calls to the young mother farther down the hall. She feels her body rise before she gives any thought to doing so. Walking through the apartment, she makes it to the room with her crying child.
“Izu..ku?” Inko hesitantly steps closer to her son. The moment she’s in his vision, his crying quiets to sniffles. She picks Izuku up and he smiles, with laughter following soon after.
And Inko can’t help but smile back, tears still dripping from her lashes. “Oh, Izuku…” Inko’s smile grows as she feels her baby’s tiny little hands push against her cheeks weakly. As Izuku babbles happily, Inko laughs lightly.
“I promise I’ll do my best to look out for you.” Inko cradles her child close. “I promise, Izuku.”