Chapter Text
“You’re sure you got everything you need in here?” Emi asked for what felt like the hundredth time to Kaito. “I put your dishes in the cupboard above the sink. And I stocked up your pantry while you and Dad were putting up your bed. Anything else?”
“Mom,” Kaito smiled, exasperated. “Everything’s good. I’ll be fine. It won’t be the first time I’d be living away from you—”
“But the first time in your own place!” Emi interjected. “You had meals and people around you in the dorms. You had your teachers in case there were emergencies—oh! I almost forgot! I put a laminated list of emergency numbers on the fridge. I stuck a magnet to it—”
“Mom!” the young man approached his mother, putting his hands on her shoulders. “Thank you. I will be fine. I’m literally a train ride away. And I will be visiting often. So often, you’d forget I lived elsewhere. Okay—oh, mommy, no!”
Emi’s eyes started filling with tears, her hand shakily reaching up to cover her mouth.
“Hero work is so dangerous, guppy!” she sniffled. “And I won’t be here to take care of you—what if you’re hurt—I put two First Aid kits under the sink, by the way. Oh, what if you’re so busy, you forget to do the groceries, and you starve!”
“Emi…” Shouta approached his wife, their daughter in his arms. “He will be fine. You raised a very responsible, very wonderful boy.”
He winked at his son, letting Natsume reach over to pat Emi’s face.
“Mamamamama,” she mumbled, making Emi giggle.
“I’m being a clingy mommy, aren’t I?” she sighed.
“You are,” Kaito smiled. “But that’s okay. I’m going to miss you, too, Mom. I am. But I’ll be okay.”
“I am literally a phone call away, guppy, yeah? You need anything, you call me. Or your dad.”
“I know.”
“Even when you don’t need anything! Call me.”
“I will. I called you every day when I was living in a dorm. I will call you as often as I can now. I promise.”
“Okay, okay.” Emi took deep breaths, calming herself down. “We should go, I think? But I can stay a little longer to help—”
“Mom.”
“Alright. Okay.”
***
Shouta reached over to ruffle Kaito’s hair, giving him a one-arm hug. “Take care, kiddo.”
“I will, Dad. Take care of her?”
“I will.”
“And you, little princess!” Kaito said, reaching over to momentarily take Natsume in his arms, snuggling his little sister tight. “I’ll visit you real soon. We’re gonna play all day, how ‘bout that?”
Natsume’s giggles echoed throughout the apartment as her big brother smothered her in kisses.
***
Shouta took Natsume back, exiting the room to give mother and son some privacy.
Kaito quickly wove his arms around his mother, marveling at how her head fit against his shoulder. When did she get so small, and delicate? He remembered looking up at her—she was larger than life, a presence that filled a room, a titan that knew all the answers and could heal any wound. She was clinging tightly against him now, reaching up to smooth his hair back against his head. Just like she used to when he was little, comforting him when he cried. He realized now that it was as much to comfort herself when he was hurt, to reassure herself and him that he was going to be alright. Because Mom was there. She was always there.
“I’ll be okay, Mom,” he whispered. “I promise I will. I’ll be careful.”
“Hero work is so dangerous,” she sniffled. “I am so proud of you, but I am so, so scared. I am so scared.”
“I know, Mom. I love you, okay?”
“You call me after every mission, okay? Especially the dangerous ones! I don’t want to march all the way over to the city to see if you’re alive. You hear me, Kaito?”
“I hear you, Mom.”
“I love you so much, guppy. I wish I could protect you forever.”
“Oh, Mommy…” He didn’t know what else to say. He couldn’t imagine how his mother was feeling, knowing that she wasn’t only leaving her son to live on his own, but that he was going into a work force she knows is dangerous. A career path without guarantee of safety. Where every day is a gamble with your own life. And she knew exactly how dangerous it was.
“Don’t worry yourself so much, okay? Natsume needs you, too.”
“Of course. But I will always worry about you. About both of you. No matter how old you get, or how far away life takes you…I will always worry.”
***
She took his face into her hands, her heart aching at the fact that she was looking up. Her baby boy was a man now. Sharper cheekbones, wiser eyes, but the same sweet, sweet smile. The smile that was shoved into her face early in the morning, waking her up when he was three. The smile that accompanied shoddily picked flowers in his hands, dirt caking his arms, proud at the “gift” he brought her. The smile that looked up at her as she stood in the stands, holding up a first place Judo medal. The smile that shone on his face when he looked at her, tears in his eyes, as they watched his acceptance video from U.A. The smile that he gave her when he graduated, handing his diploma to her with a bow, and a, “We did it, Mama!”
How did time pass so quickly? All she did was blink, and suddenly the little baby in her arms was standing on his own two feet, a full-fledged hero. It was like having your heart outside your body. It was painful, but a beautiful kind of pain, to watch him grow. She had another one now, a little girl. She’s not grasping at straws this time, a veteran at the parent game. But one day, her baby girl will stand before her like this, too. Everybody knows parenting is hard. But nobody really tells you about the most difficult part of it: letting them go. They will stop depending on you for everything, they will stop needing you so often. They will grow out of being your baby, but you will never grow out of being their parent. You will always feel hurt when they are hurt, will feel happy when they are happy, and will never cease to worry about everything they do. What a terrible, terrifying, but incredibly wondrous role. Her favorite yet, no matter how painful.
***
“I should go now, guppy,” Emi sighed heavily, giving her son a last squeeze. “Natsume’s going to get fussy soon, and it’ll be bedtime for her.”
“I’ll visit soon, okay, Mom?”
“Okay, honey. Tell me all about your missions, yeah?”
“It’ll probably be boring right now,” he said sheepishly. “I’m new, after all.”
“Even then. Tell me about patrol, about helping an old lady across the street. You hero, you.”
She headed to the door, putting on her shoes, before smiling sadly at Kaito. “I love you, guppy. Good night.”
“Love you, too, Mama. Stay safe, yeah? Text me when you’re home!”
The train ride back to their home was a quiet one. Natsume was softly snoring on Shouta’s shoulder, and Emi spent the whole time looking out the window. Shouta knew better than to disturb her; she’d let him know how she felt when she was ready.
The dam broke once they’d fixed Natsume up for bed. Shouta tucked their daughter in, watching Emi leave the room after she’d kissed the baby good night.
He found her sitting on Kaito’s bed, looking around at the walls filled with hero posters. He sat beside her, pulling her in to lean against his shoulder.
“He didn’t bring his posters,” Emi murmured, pouting.
“Well, he’s not a teenager anymore. This is a teenage boy’s room. Also, he brought some of them.”
“And he framed them! No more sticky tack on the walls. Did you see?”
“I did, yes.”
“And his dishes are all dark blue. With silver trim. Did you see?”
“I did, yes.”
“His favorite dish used to be the one covered in purple fish. He had a matching bowl, and a matching cup, and matching spoon and fork.”
“I can imagine those dishes would be too small for him now.”
“I guess…” Emi sighed heavily. “He has a couch.”
“He does.”
“His own couch. And his own TV. And his own oven. And his own dining table.”
“Mhm.”
“And his own bed.”
“He’s always had his own bed.”
“Yeah, but now he has his own bed in his own room in his own place. He can bring people home without us knowing!”
***
Shouta laughed. “Emi!”
“What! It’s true…you think he’ll tell me about every girl he brings back? Or just the ones he’s serious about?”
“I don’t think he’d have much time for that. Hero work is pretty busy.”
“Yeah, so? We were busy. And we still had time for each other.”
Shouta laughed again. “You’re right. Fine. I think he’ll tell us about the serious ones only.”
“You think? I don’t know if I prefer that, or knowing about every girl. I put a bunch of boxes of condoms in his bedside drawer. And his bathroom drawers. Just in case.”
The underground hero threw his head back and cackled. “Did you tell him?”
The corners of Emi’s mouth curved upward, before she gave in to her giggles. “No.”
“Oh, man!” Shouta gasped out. “I wish I could be there to see his reaction when he finds them!”
***
Emi looked at her husband, with his wide smile, eyes scrunched up. Faint lines ran across some parts of his face, markers of age. She was sure she looked older, too. But what a wonder to grow old with him.
She gave in to her giggles, letting them grow in to laughter as loud as Shouta’s. They spent what felt like hours laughing on their son’s bed, trying not to get too loud so as not to wake their daughter.
They were halfway to an empty nest. What else could they do but laugh?
They only paused, catching their breaths, when Emi’s phone pinged. It was Kaito. He attached a photo of his open bedside drawer, two boxes of condoms visible.
OMG MOM WTH
😫😫😫
That set the poor boy’s parents on to another aggressive fit of giggles, trying and failing to get themselves together.
Anyway, whatever!!!!
Youre so weird 😑
Good night, mom!!!
Miss you already. Love you for always.
Oh, guppy. Miss you too! And the condoms are for just in case!
There are more in your bathroom. 😙
???????????
AAAAHHHHHH
ajhefouogaueriugodduf
Good night my sweet child! I love you!! Stay safe!
In all ways! 😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉
Yeah yeah weirdo
so embarrasing. good thing i love you!!
Good night ❤
Emi and Shouta let their laughter die out, collapsing onto Kaito’s bed.
“You’re right,” Emi sighed, smiling. “I think he’ll be just fine.”