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Every year for the last thirty-nine years, the last generation of the golden age of heroes come together for a quiet reunion during the spring.
It's an open secret, and while it is by no means actually quiet, very few not in the know know exactly where it is. Even at the ripe old age of seventy-one, the assorted and bedazzled paparazzi still can't quite leave a still-living Pro who made it through the war alone. Mina insists that it's become a right of passage for new reporters, but Tooru just wishes they'd stop trampling her late summer flowers while trying to peek into the windows or loitering just around the corner when she tries to go to the store.
More often than not, Tooru's able to con the newbie into accompanying her, maybe even get them to carry half the bags by the end. They're always so sad when they realize the day is gone and they have to go back empty-handed, but Mina brightens them right back up with an easy ribbing and a promise of signed merch the next time they come around because… they do.
End up coming back around, that is. Usually, anyway. It's sweet, and Denki never let them live down the fact they have a growing gaggle of 'children'.
"Ah, look, Blasty, it's Mashirao!" Mina chirps suddenly, shaking Tooru from her thoughts as the bus draws to an unsteady stop.
"What?" he snaps, jerking up from where he'd been dozing, frowning. His full head of blonde hair is nearly completely white now; Tooru gives it another year. "What did you say?"
"Turn your ears up, it's Mashirao!" she repeats, louder, and waves to Mashirao as he shuffles aboard, tail full of bags. "Ma-shi-rao!"
He immediately perks up at the sight of them cloistered in the back. "Hey guys," he says when he's closer, tail swaying, and lets her help pull the bags to the floor by their feet. Katsuki grumbles, shuffling over as Mashirao grabs onto the railing right next to him. "Think everyone will make it this year?"
It's been getting harder for the past five years for everyone to make the trip, though. For Tooru, it's her knees; they ache more fiercely each time than the last, each bump and jolt of the practically ancient bus felt clear as day in her bones, but the journey is almost as important as the destination in her mind.
"I don't think Kyouka’s coming, she just had her first great grandchild two days ago," Mina replies, the link amongst them all — all of them that are left. "Shouto and Inasa both broke their arms last week, and before you ask, yes! They did it to each other! So, I don't think they will be coming either. Where's Rin?"
With a soft laugh, Mashirao bounces easily with the bus. "You know how he is, in the middle of classes and tournament season — he'll be late. Itsuka, too."
"Shitty Hair missed the train," Katsuki offers suddenly, squinting at his phone. His glasses make him look more prickly than scholarly despite the academia he fell into. "He's right behind us by an hour or four."
With a suspicious hum, Mina leans from Tooru's side. "And you just left without him?"
Affecting a droll look, Katsuki says, "He literally missed the doors closing."
The phone in Tooru's pocket buzzes, and then buzzes again, and again, and again. Mina all but scrambles to pull her phone free. The group chat flicks with more and more new messages, but Tooru gasps with delight at the blurry picture of Eijirou's dismayed face on the other side of the train window's glass.
"And you didn't wait for him!" Mina hisses, mock offended.
Katsuki grumbles, and purposely fiddles with his hearing aids before going back to his phone.
"Dear," Tooru says, tugging Mina back before she can try to jump him and fall and break a bone. Again. "Need I remind you that we are still… in public."
The bus driver is eyeing them from the front mirror, probably thinking if they were a bit younger a brief call to the police would be made. Mina pouts, but with a grumble, she settles down. She sticks her tongue out at the bus driver the next moment they aren't looking barely a moment later.
"Very mature," Tooru observes, and Mina grins toothily.
"But you love me anyway."
With a huff, Tooru looks away, and teases, "Do I?"
Mashirao chuckles, and Mina moans in mock despair before excitedly diverting back to her original point of conversation. Katsuki ignores them all. Tooru smiles, folds her hands carefully over her lap, and watches as the scenery flies by, the houses and land stretching far into the distance. Everyone but Tooru is dozing by the time the trees begin to turn more and more pink, the green running out with the slope of the approaching mountains.
Kitakami is beautiful , Tooru thinks, for the thirty-ninth time in a row, as the bus crosses the last bridge and reaches the end of its countryside circuit.
It trundles to a creaky stop, and Tooru shuffles her shoulder where Mina dozed off mid-sentence with Mashirao. She immediately jerks away with a cheer, and nearly trips up and forward over her walker; Tooru's hold on her arm plops her back into her seat just as the bus doors open.
Rikido folds himself aboard, grinning. "Great timing," he says, pulling in his shoulders to reach them in the back. "We just got back from the store!"
It's a process, collecting their multitude of groceries and travel bags. Mashirao wanders off as steadily as he got on, but Katsuki's dead to the world. Tooru gives him a sharp tap with her cane, and he comes to with a muffled snort, with one slitted red eye. Ahead, Rikido steadies Mina as she works her walker down the steps.
The bus pulls away in a low hum of electricity once they're off, and Kota waves from the driver's seat of the truck before them, dwarfed by the sheer height of the driveway that disappears up into the depths of the trailing canopy. He graces them with a soft, barely wrinkled smile as Rikido shoves their bags onto the truck's bed and starts to fold up Mina's walker.
"Good to see you, sis," he says as Tooru hugs him through the open window, brushing aside his curtain of dark hair.
"Wouldn't miss this for the world, squirt," Tooru teases, because he'll always be the feisty little kid who kicked Izuku in the balls on sight. He rolls his eyes. "Eri here?"
His smile dips, just a little. "Yeah, she's helping Mezo-nii hang up some more pictures."
More pictures, of course. Tooru nods, and swallows against the lump in her throat. Mina crams herself into the cab with Katsuki, chattering away. Kota turns at the slam of the door, smile brightening, and Tooru shakes her head before making her way to the back of the truck. Taking Sato's hand, Tooru steps her way up into the truck bed, Mashirao at her back. Rikido closes the tailgate after climbing in.
With a rusty crank and rumble, they begin to ascend. The rock walls of the driveaway glimmer with late morning dew as they pass up and up the dirt driveway. The sun is just daring to peek from behind the clouds as they roll steadily up the hill. Koji's estate puts Momo's wealth to shame in natural beauty, located squarely on the edge of what used to be a national park that spans for miles in every direction.
"Who's here already?" Tooru asks, the truck turning a tight corner.
Rikido hums. "Ochako and Hitoshi arrived last night. Mezo… Kota, Eri, Hanta," he ticks off, curling his fingers. "Momo… Yuga, Katsuma, Camie, Mei… think some 1-B folks should be by for dinner. Neijire and Yuu, too."
Tooru nods. "Good, more the merrier."
There's a sharp pop from the truck's cab, and Mina's peal of laughter preludes the truck swerving just a little to one side. Mashirao raps his tail against the back window, and Kota waves a hand. Rikido sighes fondly, but to all unobserving eyes, Tooru smiles.
Honestly . No one would believe they were pushing sixty and seventy if they didn't already know.
Soon enough, the driveway walls flatten and the estate's stone and wooden gate walls appear. The truck turns once more, and then pulls to a stop next to a battered delivery truck and a chrome toyota sprinter that shines in the dappled light.
"Let me drive later!" Mina demands as she carefully slides out of the truck, Rikido unlatching the truck's gate. "I know how to drive; owning a car is just stupid expensive in the city, you know!"
Kota snorts as Tooru climbs down, hands out for the walker as Mashirao brings it forward. "Just dodge the NHK man like everyone else and get your own car."
Katsuki's disgruntled taunt of, "Yeah, just like everyone else," goes ignored.
Tooru dodges the NHK easily; Mina just can't help but fall prey to the literal puppy eyes of their district's NHK agent, and Momo… has always been easily guilted.
There's a scoff, and before she can get far, Tooru says, " Mina. "
"Ugh," Mina groans, and shuffles over to her, taking the handles of the walker with a pout. As consolation, Tooru kisses her cheek, and her mullish expression turns dopey. "Aw, shucks, okay."
Mashirao snickers, like his tail doesn't curl severely when Rin and Itsuka cuddle him between them. Tooru taps Mina with her cane before taking hold of her arm, redirecting her glare as Rikido hefts the bulk of their bags.
The gate is open, and they pass through the brief strip of garden and up onto the porch's slanted walkway. Tooru eyes the unlit lanterns strung overhead, hears the solid clink of a wood chime just out of sight. The heaps of shoes in the entryway makes her laugh.
"Hey, hey, Mezo!" Mina calls suddenly, shuffling forward and into the shade of the large foyer. Tooru lets her hand fall away from her arm as Mashirao, Rikido and Kota trudge past with all of their bags. "And, Eri!"
Mezo tilts his head, mask loose around his neck. There are nails caught in the jagged tips of his lips, and he pauses mid-swing, hammer in hand, perched on a step stool. He waves a smiling tentacle, readjusting the extra arms he's braced himself with as Eri startles at his side. Her chipped horn shines in the weak light, long hair bundled tight in a thick braid. She bites her lip at the sight of them, smiling despite it and the dark frames in her hands.
"H-Hi," Eri stammers, and tucks a loose strand of hair back behind an ear.
With a raspy whoop Mina abandons her walker to charge straight for Eri, who yelps in surprise when she's swept up off her feet. "I've missed you!" Mina warbles, twirling Eri around. "You've been avoiding us for too long, you lil stinker!"
Eri whines, face flushing. "I know, I'm sorry," she says, and stumbles to her feet when Mina lets go, catching the older woman with a half hug. "I've, I've really missed you guys."
Coming up by Mezo's back, Tooru tilts her head, and wipes none too discreetly at her eyes. "We've missed you too," she says, and then taps the butt of her cane against the step stool. "And look at you, tempting fate, huh?"
With a rusty chuckle, Mezo taps a nail into the wall. "I live life on the edge," intones the extra mouth, the deep wrinkles of his snout pulling with humor.
Tooru giggles, and just takes a moment to look.
It's not quite a memorial, but it's more than just not a memorial. It's snapshots of long and shorter lives. Tooru's eyes drift slowly from old smiling faces to good times and lost friends. She gets why Eri hates coming, hates seeing the years take their toll each day at a time when she could just… just fix it all, but none of them want that. None of them wanted that: not Aizawa, Izuku, Iida, Tsuyu, and too many to list now — they all want this, here, now, soon, these wrinkles and these aches and pains from growing up; they just want to grow old when the world had seemed so determined to cut their lives short.
There's nothing better than this, Tooru thinks, and straightens a picture of a gap-toothed and wrinkled Izuku smothered with the bulk of 1-A and the assorted family he'd made along the way.
"Ow, ow, ow, my back," Mina whines, and Tooru glances away to watch Eri help her back to her walker.
"You're gettin' old, hag," Katsuki says all of a sudden, shuffling past with his bags on one arm like his own back isn't killing him. "Weak."
Mina huffs. "I'll show you weak when I drink you under the table tonight!" she calls at his retreating back, and he flips her off as he turns the corner.
"I could fix that?" Eri offers tentatively, and adjusts her hold on the pictures in her hands; Denki's mischievous and liver spotted face smiles out at them, Kyouka tucked sleepily under his chin. "I'm getting better with precision, I won't…"
Flapping a hand, Mina blows a raspberry. "What's getting old for if I can't reap the consequences of my actions," she says, wisely, before shooting Tooru a daring look. Mina leans closer to Eri, and then stage whispers, "Meet me out back before lunch."
Tooru rolls her eyes.
Kota slides back into sight then, and Tooru definitely doesn't imagine the fond smile he hides. "Everyone's gathering in the garden," he announces, and slouches further under their attention.
"You guys go on ahead," Mezo says, and Eri nods, blinking a little quickly. "Got a few more to hang up."
Mina bumps shoulders with Eri as Tooru meanders over. "Before lunch," she repeats, and Tooru sighs loudly. "Okay, okay, I'm going!"
They turn the corner on Eri handing off Denki and Kyouka's picture, Mezo hanging the wire firmly on the wall. Kota breaks off toward Rikido's disappearing back down another hall. Tooru's pretty sure of the way regardless, especially since the sliding doors of the engawas are open, a headwind of a breeze filling the hallways. It brings with it the smell of cooking food and laughter.
"Your queen has arrived!" Mina shouts as traditional tatami walls open into green and cherry pink.
And, on cue, the clamor of voices rises in pitch.
"Took you long enough!" Ochako calls. "I saved you guys some cushions!"
Gleefully, Mina parks her walker and tugs Tooru over toward Ochako. Much like Tooru, she tied her hair back with a scarf, white hair framing her face. Mina rocks Ochako's wheelchair as she hugs her, lifting her just the barest off her seat.
"Ugh, sight for sore eyes! I should get my license so I can come see you more," Mina complains, pulling back so Tooru can get her hug in too. "Why'd you and Aizawa 2.0 have to move so far away, huh?"
"I don't think the streets would be safer with you on them like that," Ochako says, sly. "And we moved like ten years ago, let it go!"
Mina wrinkles her nose as Hanta comes up to wrap her in another hug. "Never!" she denies.
"Never change, Mina," Hanta says, solemnly, and then slaps a piece of tape across her forehead, just under her sun visor. "Got 'em!"
Laughter erupts from all sides. Mina sputters, swatting at Hanta as he backpedals out of reach and double high fives Camie in his escape. Quickly grabbing hold of her jacket, Tooru tugs Mina close before she can give chase.
"Dammit," she grumbles, peeling the tape off and rubbing at the skin, stretching the scars. "I completely let my guard down…"
Honestly.
Slowly, the laughter peters out, trailing back into loud and easy conversation as they settle along the open engawa. Tooru gladly soaks in the warmth of her sun heated pillow, and Mina leans into her side, sprawling on her own cushion. On a quick and brief headcount, it seems like this year might be one of the biggest in a while. There's some faces missing, some late, some not coming, but Tooru likes that almost everyone is here this year.
A sharp, piercing whistle of air causes a hush to fall over them, all eyes turning to the front where Momo now stands. She's dolled up in a beautiful spring yukata, sakura kanzashi fluttering from her tight, steel gray bun. Ochako wolf whistles, and Momo coughs lightly into her hand when there are a few soft laughs.
"Welcome everyone!" she says, bright and clear. "I'm so glad we could all gather again this year! A few quick reminders: try not to injure yourself, be mindful of the mud, and please don't run in the hallways!"
As if a herald of ominous tides, there's a muffled boom in the distance. Tooru can see black smoke just from over the swaying pink tree tops.
Koji edges up front at the distraction, a dusky rabbit curled in one arm. “ Mei,” he signs grandly, and there's more chuckles.
Momo coughs again, cheeks pink. "She's fixing the grills."
"More like upgrading them for battle, no?" Yuga says, one leg swinging off the engawa, and Mashirao nudges him with his tail.
"We're not doing that again this year," Momo insists to whining. "But what we have planned is much better! And we'll need all of your help, so thank you very much in advance, everyone."
A few people whine playfully as she divvies everyone up, plays to their strengths and personalities in a way that only someone that's known them for over half a century could do. Corralling these chuckleheads gave more than one teacher a handful of gray hairs, so it's no wonder the color went right out of Momo's entirely.
Momo purses her lips at the end, arms crossed, and asks, "Any questions?"
She looks every bit the disapproving matriarch, instructing her unruly children to do chores, a well practiced technique. It’s dampened a little by the fact Katsuki has inched his way in and now has her by the waist. He glares at them from over her shoulder, daring anyone to ignore her very well thought out and organized plan for the day.
Koji laughs from beside the two, and prompts the rest of them with a simple, “ Okay?”
"No ma'am, Vice Prez," they all chorus, and her forced frown breaks easily into an exasperated smile.
It's a flurry of activity from that moment on. Tooru is shuffled in front of a boiling pot of flat noodles, and Mina is hustled off into the depths of Koji's estate to find and beat the dust out of blankets. People drift in and out of the kitchen, sticky fingers stealing the odd sliced egg or karaage nugget. Rikido's a steady presence at her back as he dices and chops, making out the growing towers of bentos. A bleary-eyed Hitoshi wanders in to bump Tooru aside when she begins to doze off. She's not afraid to admit her losses, and ends up falling asleep sat atop sacks of rice set out of the way.
Eventually, the smell of fish and the shutter click of a camera lull Tooru awake.
"That's one for the scrapbook," Katsuma says, and blows at the strands of hair that fall in his eyes, forehead wrinkling.
"You can't even tell I'm sleeping," Tooru yawns, and he jumps.
Yuga squishes his cheek against the edge of her jaw. "What does it matter?" he chirps, and quickly snaps a selfie of his own. Tooru can't help but let her gaze linger on the gnarled scar tissue where his pinky and ring finger used to be. "Stop being so stealth, mon amie."
Tooru huffs. "Glad to see you Kats," she says, ignoring him. "Mahoro coming this year?"
"Traffic! Sis's stuck in traffic," he yelps, pushing up on his loose glasses, and then scurries off without another word.
Yuga hums. "You'd never think he was ever a Pro Hero himself, so shy!"
So very shy. Tooru shakes her head, and pushes herself upright. She blinks at Rikido's absence, and glances at the wrapped stacks of bentos and simmering meats.
"Did I sleep through all the cooking?"
"Nope!" Yuga says, and stands, dusting himself off. "But it is almost time for the viewing, allons-y ! "
Tooru barely manages to collect her cane before Yuga drags her away. The halls twist and wind, but he barely keeps hold of her before depositing her next to Mina. Her walker's loaded with a short stack of wrapped bentos and a very familiar looking bottle of sake.
"Tooru!" she cheers as Yuga retreats, his job apparently done. Tooru watches him go, still bemused, and wonders where everyone could have gone. "C'mon, we have to get a good spot!"
She refrains from pointing out that good spots go for miles here, and just offers her arm; Mina takes it without fuss. Tooru wonders briefly just how subtle Mina truly thinks she is as they ease down the back ramp and start down the path.
The ancient and gnarled cherry blossom trees sway overhead, dappling the winding, dirt path with glimmering shadows. Tooru smiles into the sun, Mina warm beneath her hand, and the air is filled with bright voices, the trace of smoke. She doesn't question it when Mina leads them away instead and toward a very familiar and secluded grove of sakura trees, or the faint sound of footsteps behind them.
Not a subtle bone in her body, Tooru thinks as the raised red platforms come into view.
Perfectly chivalrous, Mina helps Tooru up first before basically scrambling to set out the bentos and the sake into its carafe. It's easy for Tooru to pretend that she doesn't hear the suspicious tink sound the bottle makes when set down too fast, and settle down onto her knees.
"Rikido definitely outdid himself this year, huh," Tooru comments idly as the bentos are revealed in their full springtime glory.
"He always makes the best stuff," Mina agrees, hauling herself up. She must have already snuck away to see Eri. "He even did the sakura mochi!"
Tooru reaches for a cup, willing to spare them all the nervous stalling Mina is engaging in. She immediately pours Tooru her sake, something suspiciously shiny falling into her cup — something that rather looked like her wedding band, something that should have still been at the jewelers for a dent fix. Again, she pretends not to notice, and returns the favor for Mina's own cup.
"Cheers!" they toast each other, and Tooru sips at her cup, over exaggerating her surprise when something bumps against her lip.
"Oh," she says, peering down into her cup, and fishes the ring out with one finger. "Oh?"
With barely concealed glee, Mina shuffles closer. "What is it?" she asks.
Tooru hums, putting down the cup. "I don't remember this company putting rings in its bottles," she says, dryly, and slips it on before Mina can comment. "Looks really familiar, though."
"W-Well… maybe it should," Mina says, eyes sparkling with mischief as she takes Tooru's hand, and says like an echo of what feels just like yesterday, "Tooru… will you marry me?"
Tooru's heart flutters, and she smiles wide, misty eyed. This is such a marked difference from the young girl — the young lost alien — who never thought she could be in love, that it wasn't something she could or really should have. This is what they all wanted… To grow into what they could be, and what they all are now and still have the potential to be.
Delighted, Tooru laughs, and just to be contrary, says, "We're already married, you doofus."
With a sputter, Mina wobbles like she wants to flail, and there's a muffled snort from the bushes, the shutter of a lens. "Will you marry me again?" she amends, hand brushing the sake-covered ring on her finger. "Pretty please? I have caramel."
"Well, now I'm sold," she teases, and their friends — their too silly family — all groan collectively out of sight. "Oh, fine, yes, I'll marry you. Again."
"Finally!" Katsuki snarks, and briefly pops into view before striding away. "I don't have time for this; I'm hungry!"
Cheers go up, and Mina pouts as everyone quickly abandons them to trek back up the hill, spectacle over. "I worked hard on this," she says, and Tooru leans forward to press a kiss to her lips; it wipes the old worry from her brow.
"I love you, Mina."
Mina grumbles, but says with a blinding smile, "I love you too.”
And to think, the day is still far from over.
