Chapter Text
Let's just start by saying Mitsuki loves her son. Probably more than she should, but she doesn't really have many people in her life she can dote on, except for her husband But back to Katsuki, she adores every part of him. His soft unruly hair, his no nonsense attitude, his passion in every task his little mind focuses on, and his fascination with everything Masaru does. On some days he’ll follows him around all day, when she calls him out on it, because how dare Katsuki want to hang out with his daddy, even his little embarrassed pout is irresistible. So what if her son likes his father more than her, how can she be mad as soon as she sees his ruby red eyes concentrating on her husband, she swears they sparkle when he's excited about something which is so rare.
But this, Mitsuki does not love at all. Every once and a while, who is she kidding he's is a little cretin, her son gets upset. Which is normal, kids cry, right? No, this is not normal, in fact it is unbearable and embarrassing and makes her feel like a failure of a mother. Nothing is normal about her son, who is about to enter kindergarten for fucks sake, throwing a goddamn tantrum on the grocery store floor. And for what! Like he isn't spoiled enough we have All Might cookie sandwiches at home! How does Inko have such a perfectly calm, mannerable and behaved littl-
“Mitsuki?”
…
“Mitsuki, that is you!”
Um
“And Katsuki-kun too, how are you darling?”
Why???
In comes Inko in all her mother goose glory, pushing adorable Izuku in the cart, where WOW his behind is in the seat. Not reaching for the isles, not pulling on her shirt, not a single tear on his freckled face. Just a small frown when he looks on the shelves at the All Might cookies, like he's already asked his mother in his head and knew she would say no, so he's just sitting there silently with as much resignation a four year old could muster for his great loss of cookie eating opportunity. Kami, why are they even in this aisle?
A box of cookies flies past her vision as if to answer her. Landing right at poor Inko’s foot.
“Oh dear, not well I suppose” Inko mumbles as Izuku attempts to turn in the cart's seat to peer curiously.
“No not well at all Inko” she replies annoyedly, “Brat go greet Inko!” she screeches as she hauls him up by the arm.
As if just coming into awareness Katsuki realizes there are new viewers to his outburst, other than the other shopper patrons sending her judging looks of course. He knocks her hand from his shoulder and goes to give Inko a surprisingly polite hug.
“Hey Auntie” he says calmly as if floor dust isn't stuck to his hair.
“Oh, hello little Katsuki!” something suspiciously sounding like ‘i’m not little’ is heard but Mitsuki elects to ignore it and luckily so does Inko.
“Hi, Kacchan!” Izuku cheers as it seems he finally managed to turn himself enough to freely give a sufficiently big wave for his blond best friend with a huge smile.
“Tsk, hey Deku”
Her and Inko send each other looks, one worriedly the former ashamed. That name is something new that they've noticed Katsuki throwing around at poor Izuku, the two mothers don't know what it means, but Izuku's superpowered smile deters for a fraction of a second before snapping back to its original brightness every time it's said so obviously Inko doesn't like it. She hasn't said anything yet to Mitsuki but it's an unspoken kinda thing that Mitsuki feels she better fix otherwise her and Katsuki might both lose a friend.
Mitsuki clicks her son and slaps him lightly on the back.
“Ah! Fine, how are you?” Katsuki replies as if not using proper greeting was why she decided to punish him.
“Oh, I'm fine and you Kacchan?”
Ugh, so polite
While the boys continue to talk, Mitsuki peers in the Midoriya's cart to avoid eye contact with her friend, who she also loves so much, mainly so she can’t see her irked expression at her perfectly behaved son. Looking inside all Mitsuki can see is gift wrapping and a obscenely large action figure of some hero she cant recognize, arching her eyebrows she steps closer to their cart so Katsuki can't see it let alone she inadvertently sets off another fit of his, but who is she kidding if it's not All Might her son won't have any interest in it.
Seeing her friend's confused expression, Inko steps in. “I know it said no gifts, but Takeo’s mom helped me out so much in the classroom last month I thought I would have Izuku bring this as a special treat”
Mitsuki stares at her blankly in bewilderment.
Inko must've mistook her look for something else, because she begins flailing her hands in front of herself to fix her supposed mistake. “I-I mean, not that you aren't a big help to the school of course you are, I mean you never actually come in the class--of course Mitsuki doesn't come in to be a class mom that's what teachers are for, what is Inko talking about –-but I'm sure the school appreciates you and Masaru’s contributions–-what a kind way to put donations-- but you know I really appreciate her help especially because some of the children are such a handfu-” Let me stop her right there.
“Inko what the fuck you talking about”
“Oh Mitsuki, you wont tell the other mothers will you, I knew this gift was to big but Izuku wanted to pick-”
“What other mothers?”
Inko speaks it so quickly, undoubtedly so that she won't be interrupted by her boisterous friend again, though it doesn’t matter because Mitsuki hears it at a funeral’s pace.
“At the party?”
Inko looks at her best friend worriedly for a second then glances at Katsuki, who's trying but failing to make Izuku grab treats from the higher shelf where the shopping cart is positioned, she eyes her best friend again before pity overcomes her face.
“Oh no…was Katsuki not invited?”
And honestly Mitsuki doesn't even have it in her to defend herself let alone her son through her inner turmoil. Kami, when did it get so bad? Katsuki used to be so sweet and charming. How many times have Masaru and her just given in to his cravings? Said yes to his every desire? That he turned out spoiled rotten. Have we over-indulged? No, he's our only child we get to be overly doting. But Izuku is Inko’s only son, and hers alone at that.
And Izuku got invited to the birthday party.
Breaking her inner turmoil Mitsuki waves her friend off shakily “Um, yes! The party, the brat probably just forgot to give me the invitation, I always have to pull his crumpled homework out the bottom of his bag.” That lie was passable, at best. Fuck those uppity parents. In all her son’s faults he has never been disorganized and is surprisingly responsible. Which Inko must know, of course she does she's class mom. Fuck.
Inko’s frown deepens, and yup.
Before her friend could voice her thoughts Mitsuki cuts her off once again “Don’t worry as long as it wasn’t RSVP, we should be able to tag along last minute, why don't you just send me the address”
“Now, Mitsuki I’m sorry but-”
“Come on, I’m sure Izuku wants a friend there with him”
Any arguments Inko had before are dissuaded with that statement. Because as much as Katsuki has become a ‘problem child’, Izuku isn't perfect either. She’s heard what the bitc- mothers have said about him at pickup. That he’s one of the ‘quiet ones’. She wont let her only son be the weird boy with no friends. As much respect Inko has in this unsaid party standard doesn't stand a chance in the fact that Katsuki is Izuku’s only friend.
Slightly miffed Inko replies to her slightly breaking best friend “Fine, I’ll text it to you”, ultimately she's relieved her friend isn't directly mad at her but the party's host. Speaking of “You should probably take a gift”
Gratified Mitsuki steps out of her defensive stance.
With resignation Inko reaches into her own cart and pulls out the extensive toy, gaining both boys' attention. “Here take this”
“Wont you need this”
“Oh, I’m sure the focus will not be on me”
Mitsuki scoffs and softly rolls her eyes “I really hope not” putting her head down
Heavily sighing, Inko turns to the blond child, looking at him aware of Mitsuki watching. Considering her next words she opens her mouth then closes it, Inko maneuvers her son and cart the other direction, but not before saying a simple “We’ll see you guys there”
Mitsuki stops her friend's exit “Thank you, really”, fixing her broken expression she sets a determined look back on her face.
Inko turns to give her one last smile then leaves.
It's funny to Inko, she thinks. She's known her friend since another lifetime. A lifetime filled with drinking, small waists, and no little boys pushed around in shopping carts. A time with scary things. Loud noises bouncing off each wall of our small shared apartment, oddballs on the bus who look over every inch of you like your a menu, and the scariest ones who don't just want to look but also want to taste every dish. Through every terrifying moment, Mitsuki was at her side with a spine-chilling contortion. Never any cracks, not one eyebrow out of place or flicker in her gaze. She always held a sneer to every scary moment the two young comrades came across. A shock at the time, the initial breach in her friend's facade Inko saw when she viewed the newly mother holding her wonder. It's amusing in fact that it seems out of her friend's control when fractures enter her expression only for her son.