Chapter Text
"I still don't know how you managed to get into UA High, Sho!" Juno, my "roommate", said as he prepared dinner.
"Like, I knew you were smart, but I didn't know you were thaaat smart?!"
I chuckled. Juno was the only one in this God forsaken facility that wasn't afraid of me. His story still baffles me. You see, Juno is the first grandson of one of the most feared yakuza heads in all of Japan. His mother was basically a princess, a rose of her people, but every rose has its thorns. Juno's mother made a mistake of falling for a commoner, and ended up with Juno. Even though her family would never turn away any decendant, she felt that Juno would become the first pick to run things after her father's death. Juno was dumped here, and the rest is history.
"You should stop worrying about my intelligence and worry about the veggies you're burning over there." I said.
"I am not burning the veg- OH MY GOSH THE VEGETABLES!!"
I laughed as Juno scrambled around for the fire extinguisher. Just as he found it one of the younger kids, Hitoshi, ran in.
"They're coming! They're coming!" He said like one of those "great heros" of American history.
In an instant, Juno and I did an once over of the kitchen, dining room, and living area.
We deemed that it was clean enough for it to be six children living here.
The door slammed open, and at that very moment, I realized that Hitoshi wasn't in his room yet...
You see, Hitoshi was like me. A dangerous quirk, unknown background, and a certain future. Kids like us knew two things for sure: we don't get adopted, and we'll die before we live out our dreams. Much like every other kid in the world, Hitoshi dreams of becoming a hero. He wishes to be an example for the other kids like him- kids with dangerous quirks, unknown backgrounds, and "certain futures".
The owners of this facility, our "caregivers"(though they have not a care to give), hate Hitoshi and use him and the other younger kids as weapons against Juno and I. We do what they ask...or the little ones get punished for it.
To normal eyes, Hitoshi being out of his room wouldn't be a problem. But THEY didn't want to see his face, so hitoshi being visible upon THEIR arrival meant nothing but trouble....
I knocked on the countertop twice
Juno immediately caught on and rushed to "greet" THEM.
I knew that Juno had things under control, he always did. I was quick to quietly usher Hitoshi to his room, not after giving him a cookie that was stashed in the highest cabinet. It wasn't until we arrived to his room that I noticed that Hitoshi was crying.
"What's wrong, Toshi?" I signed, as we were unsure if Juno was finished "greeting" THEM.
Hitoshi held up shaking hands and signed,"IM SORRY SHOTA!"
His frantic movements made it seem as though he was shouting.
Before I could say anything, I heard five quick knocks on hardwood. Juno was done.
I sighed," Hitoshi, whatever you think is your fault, I assure you it wasn't."
"But it was!" He whisper-shouted, "I should have never left my room in the first place! Last time I was out of place, you were on grits for hours!"
Ouch, my knees still hurt from those days. When Hitoshi was first brought here, he wasn't uh...versed in THEIR ways... He was too smart, he'd hide and refuse to do his "chores". When they'd find him, they'd tie him to a chair just outside of the dinning room, and have him watch as the others would eat dinner, and watch as I'd stay kneeled down on a pile of grits...
"Hitoshi, let's not sit here a talk about the past..what has happened is over and done with. Juno handled it! We won't let anything too bad happen to you or any of the others, you know this right?" I said, hoping that Hitoshi couldn't hear the frustration in my voice. I never enjoy conversations like this. Conversations about the past, and "faults".
"Yeah, I know!" Hitoshi said looking down.
I sighed and held my arms open. Almost immediately, Hitoshi ran into me, nearly knocking me over.
I picked him up, swung him around a few times, and gently placed him on his bed. He looked at me with wide, curious eyes.
"Where are you going, Shota?"
I gave him a weak smile, "I have to go try to save dinner. Juno tends to burn things, and leaving him alone, unattended isn't a good idea."