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Inko smiles as she finishes collecting the dishes. “Was the food to your liking, everyone?”
“Oh, it was wonderful, thank you so much Inko-san!” Fuyumi says as she begins collecting the glasses.
Natsuo nods. “You did a great job. Thanks for having us over.”
“You’ve been incredibly kind to us.” Rei pats her lips with a napkin. “Thank you for hosting us.”
Inko’s smile widens. “The honour was all mine. After all, you’re Shouto-kun’s precious family.”
She looks over into the living room, smiling softly.
Izuku and Shouto are asleep on the sofa, their shoulders and heads resting against each other, wrapped in a blanket Natsuo pulled over them when he realised they were sleeping. Their plates are resting on the kitchen counter, cooling off before they go in the fridge for longer storage if they don’t wake up soon.
Izuku and Shouto had been wanting to arrange a meet up of their families for weeks and had been escorting Rei, Natsuo and Fuyumi to Inko’s house. But there was a villain attack on the way, so the two used their provisional licences to act as Heroes and save everyone.
But by the time they arrived at Inko’s house, after cleaning themselves up, all they could do was fall asleep on the sofa. So everyone decided to let the young couple sleep.
“Allow me to help with the cleaning, Inko-san.” Rei stands up.
Fuyumi jumps up, waving her hands. “Oh Mom, let me-”
Natsuo stands up. “I can help too-”
“You two…” Rei smiles and turns to them, holding her finger to her lips. “I haven’t been able to cook or clean for you two in over 10 years. Indulge me and let me at least help Inko-san with the dishes.”
Inko blinks in surprise. She didn’t know that.
Fuyumi and Natsuo sigh. “Okay.”
Inko smiles. She’ll ask about it later. “You two are free to put something on the TV or play a board game, so long as you don’t disturb Shouto-kun and Izuku.”
“Thank you for the offer, Inko-san.” Fuyumi nods, bowing.
Natsuo grins and runs to the living room. “Fuck yeah, you have Connect 4!”
“Natsuo, shh!” Fuyumi races after him.
“You’re just shushing me because you know I’ll win!” Natsuo taunts.
Fuyumi scoffs. “Natsu, I’ll have you know I remember me winning most of our Connect 4 games?”
Inko chuckles as she listens to them banter. It makes her wish she could’ve given Izuku a sibling of his own to play with and goof off around. Though she’s heard just how fondly Izuku speaks of Eri-chan. Maybe if she talks to Aizawa…
“Well, shall we clean?” Rei turns to her, smiling.
Inko nods, clapping her hands. “Yes, let’s not keep the children waiting.”
With that, the two of them take the dishes over to the sink. Inko lets Rei have her rubber gloves and Inko grabs a dish cloth to dry things and put them away as Rei finishes them. It’s the most logical setup since Inko won’t have to tell Rei where everything belongs.
“You really did cook a wonderful dinner, Inko-san. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a home cooked meal myself.” Rei says as she scrubs a plate. “I’ve quite missed it.”
“It was my pleasure, though, if I may ask.” Inko dries a glass and lets her curiosity get the best of her. “Why haven’t you cooked or cleaned for your children in so long? Or had a home cooked meal?”
Rei is quiet, her hands going still.
Oh no.
“Forgive me for prying, you don’t have to tell me Rei-san!” Inko rushes over. “That was so rude.”
“It’s okay.” Rei continues cleaning. “The truth is that I live in a hospital, Inko-san. I have since Shouto was 6.”
Inko stills. “I see.”
She wonders why Rei lives there. Does she have a terminal illness that requires constant support?
“It’s ironic.” Rei puts the plate she was cleaning on the drying rack. “I’m a mother. I’m supposed to look after my children. But when I cracked, they looked after me.” She chuckles sadly. “Fuyumi was 12, but she’d make time to visit me once every two weeks. Natsuo would bring me his textbooks to impress me. And now Shouto visits me every week, just to talk to me and to help me heal. Even after I gave him the scar on his face.”
Inko almost drops the glass she was holding, staring at Rei with her mouth open wide.
All she sees of Rei is her back though as she continues cleaning.
“Inko-san, that only happened because of your son. Izuku-kun reached the parts of my son’s heart that had broken because of me and mended them together. And even though he knows I hurt his dear lover, he still smiled at me and told me I was beautiful when we met. I haven’t been told that in years.” Rei turns to her, smiling softly. “It’s all because of the wonderful boy you raised that Shouto came back to me.” She tilts her head up. “And I know that Izuku-kun became that way because you raised him.” She closes her eyes. “Thank you, Inko-san.”
Inko stares at Rei, lost and in shock.
Rei opens her eyes. “Inko-san?”
Inko starts crying.
Rei gasps. “Inko-san? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“Rei-san you didn’t, I, I’m just!” Inko sniffles and dries her face with the cloth. “I just…” She takes her face from the cloth. “For most of Izuku’s life, I was afraid that I’d be the only one who saw what a wonderful boy he was. I just want good things for him and your son he…” She smiles. “Izuku’s face lights up when he talks about Shouto-kun. My son may have healed Shouto-kun’s broken heart.” Inko lifts her head. “But your son healed Izuku’s broken spirit. The one I broke when I hurt him when he was young. Thank you, Rei-san, for bringing Shouto-kun into this world.”
Rei stares at her, wide eyed and mouthed. Then she slowly smiles.
“Our sons are good for each other, aren’t they?” Rei asks.
Inko nods. “Yes. Yes, they’re wonderful for each other.”
Rei’s smile softens. “Then I hope that we can be good friends too.”
Inko’s smile widens. “I’d love that Rei-san! Thank you!”
With that, they continue cleaning the dishes, talking about fonder memories of their sons. They hear Fuyumi and Natsuo bickering playfully as they play Connect 4, Fuyumi hushing Natsuo as Izuku and Shouto continue sleeping.
The Midoriya residence has always been a bit quieter than Inko would’ve liked, with only herself and Izuku living in the house, trying to fill up the empty space Hisashi left when he moved for work.
But with Natsuo, Fuyumi and Rei in their small apartment, it feels cosy and warm.
It feels like home again.
And for that, Inko will always be grateful to the Todorokis.