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Inko has always been a shy, introverted girl, with a kind heart. She was insecure and usually nobody seemed to notice her.
Instead her friend Mitsuki was confident, loud, always the centre of attention. Sometimes she was a bit too harsh and straightforward. But Inko admired her determination and strength. Even if Mitsuki was younger, she didn't let anybody push her around. They met in elementary school and grew up together.
Inko couldn't remember the exact moment she fell in love with Mitsuki. It was like an escalation of tiny and constant acts of caring, words of comfort and soft touches.
They shared their first kiss during a rainy day. They were hanging out outside when it started to drizzle. The two girls run under a bridge to wait for the storm to pass. Their clothes were soaked and their breaths, laboured from the run, formed pale clouds in the air.
Inko was tying her hair, but her gaze was captured by Mitsuki's figure. She was squeezing her skirt, dripping water over her bare thighs. Her shirt stuck on her skin, emphasised her curves, leaving little to the imagination.
She followed a drop of water with her eyes, moving from her chin, sliding on her neck and ending between her breasts.
Inko felt like Actaeon when he saw Artemis taking a bath in the deep of the forest: amazed and entranced by her beauty, but at the same time mystified and lost by her power. And like the goddess caught the mortal staring and cursed his life, Mitsuki snapped her fingers, splashing a few drops of water on her cheeks.
Inko instantly turned away and covered her face, trying to shut down the stream of thoughts in her head.
"Inko, I'm sorry I was joking. I didn't mean to scare you." She felt Mitsuki got closer.
"It's fine. I may have something in my eyes. Give me a minute." She murmured.
"Well, let me see."
Soft hands gently wrapped around her wrists. Inko didn't fight Mitsuki (she wouldn't be able, even if she tried) while she removed her hands and lifted her chin with a finger.
Crimson eyes burning like fire watched inside green leaf ones. Inko felt like the flames of inferno were eating her alive, while the other girl was inspecting her face.
Mitsuki smirked, probably because she was a blushing mess. A smooth compliment left her lips. "So pretty." Her breath caressed her skin like silk.
Inko couldn't resist anymore. She closed the gap between them, pressing their lips together in a humid kiss.
A sneaky terror began to rise inside her. Maybe she had overstepped her boundaries. She didn't ask for permission! She was ruining their precious friendship, because of her feelings.
All her worries were washed away the moment Mitsuki reciprocated the kiss. She let go of her wrists and tangled her fingers in her hair.
Inko wrapped her arms around her neck and parted her lips to let Mitsuki's tongue slip inside and explore her mouth. She sucked on her tongue and lightly bit her bottom lip. She savoured every raindrop that was still falling on their faces.
Inko was boiling from the inside, moving on pure instinct. Her brain was basically melting and her legs started to tumble. Mitsuki's grip tightened on her arms to sustain her.
"Ehi, don't pass out. Deep breaths, Inko." Mitsuki said worriedly.
Inko hugged Mitsuki, hiding her face on her shoulder. She brushed her warm cheek against her cold neck. She could hear her heartbeat slower down and she took a deep breath: sugar and petrichor mixing in an unusual scent.
The blonde stroked her back in silence, patiently waiting for a sign. Inko mumbled something unclear.
"Come again?" Mistuki asked.
Inko raised her head. "I'm sorry."
Mistuki chuckled fondly. "Don't be sorry for something I also wanted, but I was too afraid to ask." And gave her a quick peck on the lips.
Inko’s eyes widened. “Stop! You’re gonna kill me.” She grumbled. She could feel Mitsuki’s chest rumble with a laugh. “I’m serious.” She pouted.
Mitsuki caressed her head “Well, if you’re like this just from a kiss, I can’t wait for when we’ll do something else.” She whispered maliciously in her ear, tongue faintly brushing her lobe.
Inko exited the locker room, chatting with her teammates, while they walked to the gate. As she saw Mitsuki sitting on a bench, she said goodbye to the other girls and headed to her.
Mitsuki was scribbling on a notebook, as she heard Inko approaching, she raised her head, smiling.
"What are you drawing?" Inko asked, peeking at the paper.
Mitsuki flipped the page to show her some sketches of Inko playing volleyball: tossing the ball, jumping to spike and a close up to her sweating face.
"They are beautiful Micchan!" She exclaimed.
"Only because the model is beautiful."
Mitsuki closed the notebook and put it in her bag. She got up and after checking they were alone, she quickly kissed her.
Inko wasn't blushing from the compliment, she had just finished her volleyball training, that's all.
"You are really good at drawing. I think you could do it as a job one day." She suggested, to change the topic.
Mitsuki took her hand and they started walking back home together. "I’ll think about it. I still have 2 years to decide. And you? Any universities are you interested in?"
"I don't know. I'll try to pass the exams and then I'll choose."
Inko was in her last year of high school, but she still didn't have a clear idea about her future. Well, she didn't have high hopes to reach her goals to be honest.
"Inko, you'll pass for sure. You're smart and you work hard. Believe in yourself." Mitsuki stated with determination.
Inko didn't know what Mitsuki saw in her, but she felt lucky. Her girlfriend constantly encouraged and reassured her, making her believe she could do anything.
They were getting closer to Inko's house and they would have to part their ways. Just before the last turn, they stopped in the alley to talk briefly.
“See you tomorrow.” Mitsuki said and was about to leave, when Inko gave her a tender goodbye kiss.
“Thank you. For always being kind to me.” She breathed out and hugged her girlfriend.
“You make it easy sweetheart.” Mitsuki replied.
Inko watched Mitsuki walk away until her figure disappeared behind a corner. She turned to reach her home and she froze when she found her mother, open-mouthed, eyes wide in shock, looking at her.
That evening Inko was scolded like she had never been in her entire life. Her mother was really upset that she didn’t tell her about Mitsuki.
“Kissing in the middle of the road! What if our neighbours saw you! Don’t tell me you do something like that even in school. You’re gonna be expelled!”
“Mom, please…” she tried to explain for the umpteenth time.
“No! I don’t want to hear more of this. You’re lucky I’m not gonna tell your father, his heart might not gonna take it.”
Inko was silently crying at that point. It was all her fault: Mitsuki never kissed her unless she was sure nobody was watching them. But Inko was feeling so happy and she didn’t act rationally.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. But it was just a kiss.” She mumbled.
Her mother’s frown deepened. “You were kissing another girl!”
Inko didn’t really understand the problem: she thought her fault was to have kept their relationship a secret, not Mitsuki being a girl.
“That girl must have a bad influence on you. I’m gonna remove you from that school.” Her mother sighed.
“No!” Inko exclaimed. “Please mom! I won’t see her again, I promise. But let me finish highschool, please.” She begged.
Her mother allowed her to stay in school, but with the condition to not see Mitsuki ever again.
Inko imagined Mitsuki would probably be mad, maybe scream at how stupidly she acted. Instead she listened in silence and hugged her, comforting Inko shaking form.
“I’m sorry. I-I..”
Mitsuki cut Inko’s apology with a tender kiss. “Sweetheart, kissing your lover shouldn’t be a crime. Never.”
They were forced to break up and they couldn’t even spend time as friends like before, because Inko was strictly controlled by her mother.
Graduation day finally came and for Inko meant she couldn’t see Mitsuki at school anymore, but also she would have to move to attend college and so she would be far from her parents’ eyes.
Inko never went to sleep before calling Mitsuki and talking to her over the phone about anything. They kept in touch through all the years they were in college and even when they started to apply for jobs.
Neither of them suggested dating again, they were both too conscious about people’s thoughts on queer couples. They settled for remaining only friends, society wasn’t ready for their love and fighting for something that should be considered normal was too draining.
Inko met Hisashi at work. He was the craziest man she had ever known. Always late, clumsy, his head constantly in the clouds. But he had the warmest smile she had ever seen. His positive attitude was able to brighten up the mood immediately.
His hair was dark as his eyes as well. His face was covered with light brown freckles. It was so easy for Inko to fall in love with him. And Hisashi didn't hesitate to ask her out.
When Inko introduced her boyfriend to Mitsuki, Hisashi received the most frightening shovel talk he had ever imagined to hear. Inko still smiles at the memory.
When Mitsuki told her about Masaru, she imagined he'd be a rude and rough guy. So she was surprised to meet a kind and soft gentleman. The only one able to sweeten her friend's behaviour.
Time passed and Mitsuki proposed to Masaru, who couldn't really refuse.
Of course Inko was happy for them and she was chosen to be the maid of honour. She cried when the spouses exchanged their vows. She even catched the bouquet and Hisashi blushed at the sight. Maybe they'd be next to the altar.
But fate had a different plan. Hisashi took a work offer overseas and asked her to follow him.
Inko refused: her life was in Japan. She didn't want to leave her job to start an uncertain career. She didn't like the idea of completely relying on Hisashi and being alone in a country where she knew nobody. Plus, deep down, she didn’t want to say goodbye to Mitsuki again.
So they broke up and avoided each other for the next month before Hisashi's departure.
In the meantime, Mitsuki and Masaru announced they were expecting a baby. Inko was glad for this news, it helped her to distract from her situation and hope for a better future.
It was raining the night Hisashi knocked on her door. Inko looked through the peephole and shook her head. She didn't want to fight again and suffer.
"Inko," he called from the other side. "I know it's late and you probably don't want to see me. But I can't leave without trying to convince you one last time. So I'll stay here, talking, even if you won't listen."
He sat down, his back pressed against the door. "I've bought a ticket for you." Hisashi continued. "It's near the window, so you can see the cities from above."
The rain kept falling in the background, cooling the air outside.
"I chose a small apartment, but I made sure it had a bathtub. Because I know how much you like taking hot baths. There is a terrace, where you can grow your favourite flowers. And there are a lot of museums and art galleries we could visit on the weekends.."
He kept jabbering for an hour, not sure if he was talking to Inko or himself.
"You'd wear the yellow dress I love and I'd take your hand while walkin-" Hisashi suddenly fell on the floor, his back hitting the ground and his gaze met a pair of green eyes. "Hey." he smiled.
"Do you want to come inside?" Inko asked.
Hisashi got up and followed her.
"Have you listened?"
Inko nodded.
"So..what do you.."
"No. My decision doesn't change. I won't go."
Hisashi sighed, lowering his head. "I've imagined. I'm sorry. I wasted your time. Have a good life, Inko." He placed his hand on the knob.
"Hisashi, wait." Inko said and he turned toward her. "Why are you here?"
He took a deep breath before answering. "Last time you said I was selfish. I made a decision without considering you. I wanted to show you that it wasn't true. I always think about you."
Inko got closer, a sad smile cracking on his face "I know this. I'm the selfish one. I want you besides me, but I'm not ready to leave everything for you."
Hisashi caressed her head tenderly, trying to provide a sort of comfort.
"We were both wrong in the end. I don't blame you for choosing to stay, so don't blame yourself."
Inko hugged him, burying her face in his chest. "I'll miss you." She blurted out.
"Me too, darling" he whispered, clinging to her clothes and a broken sob escaped from Inko's throat.
Hisashi left a soft peck on her temple. "Don't cry. It's not worth it. Not anymore, darling."
Inko looked up at him, tears flowing from her eyes. Hisashi wiped them with his thumbs.
"You are also crying." She pointed out, voice hoarse.
"It must be the rain."
Inko kissed the corner of his mouth. "Liar. Rain isn't salty."
Hisashi laughted coldly. "Let's pretend tonight it is."
He kissed her on the lips firmly, trying to give up all his love on that act. As he slightly moved away, Inko followed, slipping her tongue inside his mouth. Hisashi didn't pull away, savouring the moment.
They parted, short of breath, and Inko placed kisses on his jaw, nibbing the flesh.
"I-I.. should go.." Hisashi murmured.
Inko looked up at him and their eyes met. She raised her trembling fingers to lightly touch his cheek "Let's pretend we are still in love tonight."
Hisashi enfolded her hand with his "I don't have to." he whispered, kissing her palm.
No more words were shared, but only heated kisses and eager touches. That night the apartment was filled by heavy breaths and muffled moans.
Darkness enveloped their naked bodies as a velvet coat to hide their secret from prying eyes. They fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms, clinging in a desperate attempt to stay together, to fool fate. As if they weren't built to fall apart.
Inko slowly opened her eyes. The morning light pierced through the curtains, illuminating the room. She turned on the other side, finding the mattress empty. A plane ticket was left on the nightstand. She buried her face in the pillow and quietly wept.
In the following weeks, Inko focused on her job and hobbies, trying to relieve the pain. Mitsuki stayed with her as much as possible, doing what she could to help.
As days passed by, Inko felt sicker. Her back began to hurt and she was more tired than usual. One evening she got a fever and had to call in sick at work.
In the morning she threw up in the bathroom. Shivers ran down her body as an uneasy feeling rose at the back of her mind.
She went to the doctor who confirmed her suspicions: Inko was pregnant. And it was all her fault. She opened the door. She reciprocated the kiss. She stopped Hisashi from leaving. She said it was fine to not worry. Her selfish desire for a last intimate moment had left a heavy consequence on her life.
Inko was laying on the couch, staring at the ceiling, contemplating her options. Should she tell Hisashi? Would he even care? Would he blame her? Keep it? Have an abortion?
Someone knocked on her door, waking her from overthinking. She got up and opened the door. Mitsuki was standing with a bag in her hands "Hey, how are you doing?" she said entering the house "I've heard you're ill. So I've brought you some soup."
"Thank you." Inko took the bag and placed it on the kitchen counter.
Mitsuki sat down at the table "Have you been to the doctor?"
"Yes, it's just the flu." Inko forced a smile and began to prepare the tea.
"You should rest." Mitsuki suggested. "You must be tired, after all that has happened."
Inko nodded, not looking at her.
"I still think I should've hit Hisashi." Mitsuki added.
Inko froze for a second before answering "It wouldn't have changed anything, Mitsuki."
"You are too good Inko. I warned him to not hurt my best friend and what did he do? He left you! Damn bastard! If I ever see him I'll slap him in the face."
"Mitsuki, it’s not necessary." Inko protested.
"Eh?! Maybe you can forgive him, but not me. I'm so pissed that.."
"Stop talking about him, please." Inko asked with pleading eyes.
All the anger in Mitsuki vanished, leaving only a guilty expression "Sorry."
Inko put the cups of tea on the table and sat down "Don't worry. I just have to get used to it."
Mitsuki placed a hand over her wrist "You'll get." She said smiling.
Inko looked at the cup, sighing. After the news she just received it would be even more difficult to get used to it.
"Changing the subject, yesterday I did an ultrasound." Mitsuki announced.
"How was it?" Inko questioned trying to empty her mind.
"Fine. This little brat is growing well for now. It's too early to know the gender, but Masaru hopes it's a girl. I don't really care to be honest. I only hope they take after Masaru. We were pondering some names yesterday and I'd like to know your opinion."
As they chatted Inko started to picture her possible future; a future where she is lulling a baby in her arms, where she is helping them take their first steps, where someone calls her mom, where she can give her unconditional love without fear.
“Asami would be cute for a girl. But I don’t want her to think beauty is her only value.” Mitsuki said, putting her chin in her hand.
“It’s difficult to find a proper name.” Inko commented.
Mitsuki shook her head. “Nah. The name is easy. The difficult part is carrying this bean. It’s going to destroy my back and it gives me strange craves. I’ve already warned Masaru that he is gonna change diapers and get up at night when they’ll make a fuss.” She said laughing.
Inko’s eyes widened in realisation: how could she be so naive? Raising a baby it’s not a stroll in the park. She wasn’t even able to take care of herself properly, what would she do with another human being? She would probably lose her job and she couldn’t afford to have another mouth to feed. Love alone doesn’t pay bills.
"Inko" Mistuki called her, waking her up from her spiral.
Inko blinked and brushed her face. "Sorry. I was distracted."
"Inko, are you sure you are fine?" The blonde asked worriedly.
Inko covered her face with her hands and started to sob. Mitsuki immediately got up and hugged her.
"Ehi, ehi. I'm here. Deep breaths, sweetheart." Mitsuki reassured her like she used to do.
Inko slowly calmed down and Mitsuki grabbed a tissue to wipe her tears and waited patiently.
"Inko, you know you can tell me everything, right? I won't judge." She encouraged, holding her hand.
Inko collected all the courage she could and explained what had happened. "I'm so stupid. I dragged myself into trouble for a moment of pleasure."
"You're too hard on yourself." Mitsuki said. "These things are made in two. Hisashi has his part of responsibility."
"But now I'm alone. I can't raise a child. I'm a mess, a complete failure."
Mitsuki gently cupped her face, staring intensely at her eyes. "Inko, listen carefully. This is your body and your life, you only can choose for them. But you aren't weak. You are sensitive, caring, gentle, wonderful and I could go on for at least an hour." She stated, a small smile cracking on her face. Inko blushed at the litany of compliments; no matter how many years could pass, Mitsuki would always make butterflies flutter in her stomach.
"I'm not telling you this to change your mind, but you underestimate yourself. I want you to take a decision fully conscious of what you’re capable of.”
Inko nodded and hugged Mitsuki. “Thank you. I’d be lost without you.” She whispered.
“Sweetheart, you don’t even know how much you’ve taught me.”
Inko decided to keep the baby. She worked two jobs for as long as the pregnancy allowed her. She bought second hand supplies to save money and cut on the superfluous.
The Bakugos offered their support, but she was determined to rely on them as little as possible. Mitsuki was pregnant too and she also needed help, even if she didn’t openly say that.
Inko was outside Mitsuki’s hospital room when Katsuki was born and while her friend took a well deserved rest, she helped Masaru with the chores and the baby.
Three months after, Inko went into labour and she called Mitsuki who stayed by her side until Izuku was delivered. As soon as Inko held Izuku in her arms, she knew she had made the right choice to keep him. She had just met him and she already loved him with all her heart.
If being parents was hard, being a single parent was twice harder. Inko was lucky to have her friends helping her, but she couldn’t rely on them forever, they also had a child and a job to stress about.
Everyday was a challenge, especially if your son cries a lot and you don’t know why, or if he throws up on your shirt and you have to change again, or if your washing machine decides to break and you can’t afford to repair it or buy a new one. But Inko endured all of this for her and Izuku’s sake, she kept fighting, trying to stay afloat; until one day she found the water that used to be under her chin, was now at her feet. She learnt how to handle Izuku and she found a job that allowed her to work from home.
When Izuku and Katsuki were a little bit older, Inko and Mitsuki started to drop the kids off at each other's houses, so while one was babysitting, the other could do chores that had been procrastinating or just relax for a few hours.
Inko felt so blessed; when she was a teenager, she dreamed of a life with Mitsuki like this and even if things went different, she still could experience a bit of that.
Izuku and Katsuki seemed to get along quite well, even when they started kindergarten and they met new kids, they always stayed close.
“Mom, why don’t I have a dad?” Izuku asked one day when she went to pick him up at preschool.
Inko was worried about the lack of a father in Izuku’s life and she knew this moment had to come, still she wasn’t really prepared to answer and she wasn’t sure a three year old could fully understand.
“Why are you asking this, honey?”
Izuku shrugged. “Kacchan and other kids have a dad.”
“Mmmm… yeah. Well, you see.. Oh what if I tell you a story?” She suggested.
“A story?”
Inko nodded “The story of how mom and dad met. I had just started to work in a big office and my boss sent me to deliver some documents to another floor and I kind of got lost. I entered the wrong room and I was about to leave when I heard a knock. I looked around and I saw a man standing outside the window.”
“Was he flying?” Izuku asked curiously.
Inko chuckled. “No, he got stuck on the emergency stairs. The door closed behind him and he couldn’t open it anymore. I let him in and he thanked me. When I explained what I was doing he guided me to the right room. While I was going back to my desk I saw him again: his boss was scolding him for being late. So I stood up and I said I asked him to lead me through the office.”
“Mom, you saved him. You’re a hero.” Izuku exclaimed, mesmerised.
Inko smiled at the memory. “Then we became friends.”
“Like me and Kacchan?”
“Yes, and then we fell in love. And we stayed together for years.” Inko swallowed; here comes the hard part. ”We were happy, but one day he decided to move to a far place. He asked me to follow him, but I refused.”
Izuku gasped “Why? You were so much in love.”
“Because mom was afraid to leave her home. So we parted, but before he left he gave me the most precious gift.” Inko stopped on her tracks and kneeled at Izuku’s height. “He gave me you, Izuku. And I promised to love you as much as I loved him.”
The three year old stared at her, he was probably elaborating all the information. “And you never saw dad again?”
Inko shook her head. “Sometimes couples don’t go along so they split up. He has his life and I have mine.” She bit her lips, mastering the courage to ask her son a question she was trying to avoid. “Do you want to meet him? Maybe someday?” She didn’t really want to talk to Hisashi again, she hid Izuku from him and she wasn’t sure of how he could react. There was the possibility he didn’t want to see the child and then she would have to disappoint Izuku.
“No.”
Inko’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I’m happy with mom. I don’t need a dad.” Izuku said as a matter of fact. “I was just curious.”
Few tears left Inko’s eyes and she hugged Izuku close to her chest.
“Mom, why are you crying? Are you hurt?” He asked worriedly.
“No honey. Mom is happy. Sometimes when people are happy, they cry from joy.” She sobbed.
Years passed in a blink and now Izuku was in middle school. He used to be such a joyful and cheerful kid before they discovered he was quirkless. Inko promised to support his dreams and provide him with all her help, but her body couldn’t give him a quirk, the only thing he wished for.
His friendship with Katsuki began to go south to the point one day she received a call from school. The boys went into a fight and the teachers had to ground them.
Mitsuki was also present and she scolded Katsuki for his behaviour. “Wait for me in the car, brat. I haven’t finished with you.” She commanded and Katsuki walked away without lifting his head.
Izuku didn’t speak a word and Inko decided it was better to talk at home, maybe he would open up.
“Inko, do you have a minute?” Mitsuki asked. Inko instructed her son to wait at the entrance, so they could be alone.
Mitsuki profusely apologised to Inko for the trouble Katsuki had caused.
“Don’t worry, Mistuki. They are kids, they fight sometimes. I’m sure they’ll make up.”
Her friend’s lips wobbled. “Inko, do you think I’m a bad mother?”
“No! Mitsuki, how can you think that?” Inko immediately reassured her.
“It’s just…” she sniffed, fighting the urge to cry. “Everybody praises Katsuki for his quirk and I’m worried he thinks that is his only value, so I don’t compliment him often. I don’t want to boost his ego, but at the same time I’m afraid he’ll think I don’t love him. I don’t know what to do.” She confessed in a rush.
“Oh Micchan.” Inko took her face between her hands. “Nobody teaches you how to be a parent. And the fact that you’re so worried shows how much you care about Katsuki. You’re doing your best.”
“But what if my best isn’t enough? What if I’m raising him wrong? Your Izuku is so kind, while Katsuki is wild and swears all the time.”
“Micchan, breath, please.” Inko tried to calm her down. “We can’t control our sons’ lives forever. Gosh, most of the time I don’t even know what to say to Izuku or what he is thinking. We can only try to give them our best, so they’ll make their own decisions when they’ll grow up.”
Mitsuki brushed her eyes to prevent tears from falling. “Thank you, Inko.”
Inko gave her a quick hug. “It’s nothing.”
They parted and started to walk to their sons.
“You also had a foul mouth when you were Katsuki’s age. It must be hereditary.” Inko teased playfully, making Mistuki laugh.
It was dinner time. Inko and Izuku were sitting at the table, munching on their food.
Izuku seemed quiet today. Well he is quiet most of the time, but today he didn’t really speak about his day like usual.
“Honey, how was school?” Inko tried to initiate the conversation.
Izuku shrugged. “Fine.”
“Did you do anything interesting?”
Izuku thought about the question for a bit and then he spoke, gaze fixed on his dish. “We had a sex education class today.”
Inko felt her face heat up and drank some water. It’s nothing too strange or unexpected, Izuku is old enough, but how do you have this talk without sounding cringe? “Do… Do you have any questions?” she asked, hoping for a no as an answer.
Izuku scratches his head, his face is also a deep red shade. “Actually, yes.” he paused, probably fighting his own embarrassment. “It’s not really sexual related, but I don’t know. I was in class and I had this doubt.”
“You can tell me anything, honey.” Inko encouraged, her shyness put in the background for her son’s sake.
“Well, I like girls. I find them cute and all. But sometimes… sometimes I find boys cute too. Not all boys, just some.“ Izuku said, fumbling with his hands. “Maybe it’s a phase. I don’t know. Is it normal? What do you think?” He added in a breath.
Inko slided her hands across the table to hold Izuku’s. She gave him a gentle smile to reassure his wrecking nerves. She was glad her son felt so comfortable around her to confess something like that.
“It’s not a phase, Izuku.” Inko calmly explained. “You like both and it’s fine.”
Izuku looked her in the eyes for the first time since they started the conversation. “How can you be sure?”
“Because I know it. The feeling of being out of place. Thinking that it would be easier if you could pick a side. But it would mean suppressing an important part of you.”
“What if I change my mind? If I discover it was in fact a phase?”
“It’s still fine, honey. You’re growing and it’s normal to question such things. I’ll still love you the same.”
Izuku gave her hands a light squeeze. “Thank you, mom.”
Inko got up from her seat and moved next to her son to hug him. Izuku melted into the embrace, losing the tension he had accumulated.
“Midoriya-san, let me help you.”
Inko turned her head at the voice and saw her coworker running in her direction.
“Fujimoto-san, it’s not necessary.”
“The bags are heavy and I don’t mind a bit of company while walking. We’re going in the same direction anyways.”
Inko agreed and handed him one of her bags with the grocery she had bought. She had recently changed her job, due to Izuku’s insistence that she could have a better career. The company she applied for was small, not like her previous one, and her colleagues were all nice. She had to cough up with the new methods, but as soon as she started, she felt at ease.
“I don’t mean to pry, but are you having a party? This bag is huge.” Fujimoto asked.
“Kind of. My son participated at the UA sport festival and I want to celebrate.” Inko answered smiling.
Fujimoto’s jaw dropped. “Don’t tell me he is the kid that broke his bones against the fire and ice kid.” he gasped.
Inko sighed. “Yes, he is.”
“Oh wow. You must be very proud. He’s gonna be a great hero.”
Inko tucked a hair behind her ear. “I wish he didn’t hurt himself so much.”
Fujimoto stayed silent for a moment, taken back by her words.“It must be difficult to be a parent. Anyway, I didn’t know you were married, Midoriya-san. You never wore a ring at work.”
“I’m not married. Actually, it’s only me and Izuku. Oh we have arrived. Thank you, Fujimoto-san.”
“Don’t worry it was a pleasure.” He said, passing her the bag.
“See you at work.”
“Oh, Midoriya-san, I was wondering if you mind joining me for lunch tomorrow.” Fujimoto asked, scratching his head.
“I’m sorry, but I’m busy. Maybe next time?” she proposed.
“It’s fine. I’ll see you on Monday then. Bye.” he waved his hand as he walked away.
Inko opened the door of her apartment and jumped in surprise when she found Izuku waiting for her. “Izuku, you scared me.”
“Sorry mom.” he quickly grabbed her bags and brought them to the kitchen to put away the groceries.
“Were you eavesdropping?” Inko asked, quirking a brow.
“Maybe.” Izuku closed a cupboard and turned around, leaning against the counter.
Inko shook her head.“It’s not kind Izuku.”
“I know, but you were basically at the door and your coworker seems nice.”
“Izuku, I’ve already told you…”
“That you’re not interested in dating anyone, and I’m the only man in your life. I know, mom. But maybe you can give it a try. You’re still young. And I'm old enough to understand.”
Inko sat down, sighing. “Honey, I appreciate your concern, but I’m happy like this. I have friends and I have you to worry about. It’s enough for me.”
Izuku nodded in defeat and resumed his work.
“Instead of thinking about my dating life, what about your love life?” Inko teased playfully and observed Izuku’s ears turning red.
“There’s no love in my life, mom.” He replied without turning.
“What was the name of that girl? Uraraka?”
“She’s a friend.”
“And Ida?”
“Again, just a friend.”
“When you fought with Todoroki on TV it was pretty tough. Something I need to know?”
“MOM!” Izuku yelled, exhausted. “Stop it please.”
Inko laughed. “Sorry. I was joking.”
“You were torturing me.”
“It's a mother's duty to judge her son’s partner.”
“Well, I’ll let you know when I actually have one.”
Their conversation was interrupted by a phone ringing. Inko picked up the call. “Hello Mitsuki.” She listened to her friend talking while Izuku finished putting away the groceries.
“It would be nice. Give me a minute.” Inko covered the speaker with her hand and whispered to Izuku. “Mitsuki is inviting us to celebrate Katsuki’s victory. Do you want to go?”
She was aware that their kids didn’t really get along as they used to do, but Izuku had resumed talking about Katsuki since they started UA, so perhaps their relationship wasn’t bad now. In fact Izuku grinned and nodded his approval.
Inko opened the door and from the threshold she heard two voices bickering and laughing. “I’m home.” She shouted, but she didn’t receive any answers.
She reached the kitchen and she found Izuku and Katsuki sitting at the table, books and pens scattered in front of them. They were discussing so animatedly that they didn’t hear her coming.
As soon as they noticed her, their quarrel died. “Hi mom, I didn’t hear you. We were doing homework together.”
“Good afternoon auntie.” Katsuki greeted her.
“Do you need anything?” asked Inko.
“No mom, thanks.”
“I’ll go to my room to rest for a bit.”
“Ok. We’ll be quiet.”
Inko smiled when she heard Katsuki whisper-yelling about an exercise. She was glad the boys finally made up and could spend time like this. Gods know how much Izuku missed Katsuki.
They had been through a lot, much more than any normal teenager. Sometimes she still cried at the memory of Izuku in the hospital bed, not sure if he would wake up. And she shared that pain multiple times with Mitsuki, because Katsuki often risked his life too.
It was the summer of their second year and she was happy to see them living it as they should: careless and free. Hopefully things would remain like this.
Inko was eating her breakfast before heading out to work. She glanced at Izuku who had barely touched his plate and seemed with his head in the clouds. Yesterday when she returned home he had locked himself in his room and didn’t come out. She thought that maybe he was just tired, but today he was still silent.
“Izuku, what happened? Are you sick?” she asked, concern clear in her voice.
Izuku rolled his shoulders and let out a breath. He opened his mouth to speak, when the doorbell rang.
Inko got up to answer the door, but Izuku appeared in front of her. “Mom, if it’s Kacchan, tell him I’m not here.” He whispered in a rush.
Inko frowned, visibly confused. “W-what…”
“Please. I’m not here.” Izuku begged and then he ran to hide in his room.
Inko swore she saw a sparkle of green around his body. She opened the door and indeed Katsuki was standing there.
“Good morning Katsuki. I’m sorry but Izuku is not home today.” She announced, trying to sound natural.
A sour expression appeared on the boy’s face. “Guess I’ll try another time.” he murmured and took a step back, unsure of what to do. “Can you tell him to check his phone or something? He isn’t answering my texts.”
Inko guaranteed Izuku would receive his message and looked at Katsuki walk away like a beaten dog. Something was definitely wrong.
Inko knocked on Izuku’s door and waited for his permission to enter. Izuku was lying, belly down, on his bed with his face buried in the pillow.
Inko sat down on the edge of the mattress and passed a hand through his curls to sooth him.
“Do you want to tell me what happened between you two?”
Izuku mumbled into the pillow.“I fmmk up.”
“Honey, I can’t hear you.”
Izuku groaned and raised his head. “I did something stupid and screwed up everything. Now Kacchan hates me.“
“Izuku, you’re overreacting. Katsuki can’t hate you forever. Anyway he didn’t seem angry before, he was hurt.”
He turned on his back, facing her. “Because of me. I ruined our friendship beyond repair. No more homework or training together, no more hero partners.” Izuku whined on the verge of tears.
“Izuku, I saw you drifting apart for years, but still be in each other's mind. I’m sure you’ll solve this. You have to speak to each other. So be brave and answer your phone.” She pecked him on the forehead and got up. “Don’t stay all day in bed sulking. What would All Might say if he saw you like that?”
Inko received a grunt as an answer and left the house to go to work. She was walking when her phone trilled with a notification and she opened her chat with Mitsuki.
>Micchan: My brat has just come back from your house and locked himself in his room and he is blasting heavy metal. What happened?
>You: Apparently he and Izuku had a fight.
>Micchan: Really? Do I have to ground him?
>You: No. Izuku said it was his fault.
>Micchan: Izuku is too kind to Katsuki.
>You: I’m confident it’s just a misunderstanding. They aren’t 5 anymore.
>Micchan: Sometimes I doubt that. I’ll let you know if I discover something.
>You: Bye, ttyl.
The tv was streaming a silly game show and the loud noises were filling the silence of the room. Inko glanced over the other end of the couch where Izuku was laying; his concentration was entirely captured by his phone and she tried to read the expressions that emerged on his face from time to time.
Sometimes Inko missed the time when Izuku used to tell her everything, but now he was his own person with his secrets. One day he would inevitably leave her and build his own life and she hoped to be a part of it.
“I’ll go to my room.” Izuku announced, sitting up.
“Goodnight, honey.”
“‘Night mom.” he said and closed his room’s door behind himself.
A ringtone broke the silence of the apartment. In the dark, Inko blindly reached for her phone and answered the call. “Hello?” She yawned, the alarm clock on the nightstand showed it was 4:00 in the morning.
“Inko! Thank god you picked it up.” Mitsuki’s voice came in short breaths from the other side.
“Micchan, what’s going on?” Inko said, rubbing away sleep from her eyes.
“It’s Katsuki. He’s gone.” She sniffed.
“Gone?” Inko repeated, confused.
“I checked his room. The whole house. I have no idea where he is. I don’t even know when he left. He stayed in his room all day.”
Inko got up from the bed and started to get dressed, balancing the phone between her shoulder and ear. “Masaru?”
“He is asking the neighbours if they saw something.”
“Hold on, I wake Izuku up and we’ll come looking for him. I’m sure he is fine. Maybe he went for a run.”
She heard a rustle coming from the other side. “I know he can take care of himself, but he’s still a kid. And he is god knows where in the middle of the night. Alone.”
Inko exited her room and opened Izuku’s door. “We’ll find him. We-” the words died in her tongue as soon as her eyes met the scene in front of her.
Because Katsuki was in Izuku’s bed, sleeping soundly, his body lying completely over Izuku’s. They were fully clothed and Izuku’s arms were enveloping Katsuki’s frame like he was trying to shield him from nightmares.
Inko almost dropped the phone and she froze in her place, before Mitsuki’s voice brought her back to reality. “Micchan.” She whispered. “I’ve found Katsuki.”
“What?”
“He’s here. With Izuku.”
“I’m gonna kill him. Damn brat giving her poor mom a heart attack. I swear I’m coming to your house and bringing him back pulling at his ears for the whole way.”
Inko’s gaze fell on her son’s soft smile, on how his expression seemed so content and relaxed, and she slowly closed the door.
“It’s not necessary Micchan. Let them sleep now. I’ll talk to them tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I think they need this.”
Mistuki sighed heavily in relief and agreed to postpone the scolding for later.
Muffled whispers and rustlings came behind the closed door. Inko was standing in front of Izuku’s room, patiently waiting for the boys to come out. She heard some more murmurs and a wet sound, before Izuku opened the door and jolted in surprise seeing her.
She eyed Katsuki who averted her gaze, while her son was shaking from head to toe, fumbling with his words to give an explanation.
“Come eat breakfast” Inko simply ordered and she moved to the kitchen. She threw a glare behind her shoulders and observed how Izuku stretched his hand for Katsuki to grab it without hesitation and the two boys followed her to the other room.
Izuku cleared his voice, trying to sound more secure than he truly was “Mom, me and Kacchan are together now. Like boyfriends. You said it was fine if I like boys, so… That’s all I guess.” He concluded, biting his lips and holding his breath.
Inko opened her mouth to speak, but she was anticipated by Katsuki. “Auntie Inko.” He said in a raspy tone. “I know that the problem is not that I’m a boy, but that it’s me.” he spelled each word looking her straight in the eyes.
“I already apologised to Izuku for my shitty behaviour. But I think I owe an apology to you too. I hurted him and I made you suffer for this.” Katsuki let go of Izuku’s hand who was staring speechless at the scene, and he kneeled down to the floor. “I promise I’ll treat him better. I’ll do anything to prove to you I’ve changed, that I’m worthy of his love. Please Inko, let me date your son.” He finished and he bowed completely, his forehead touching the ground.
It was the second time someone was bowing in front of her, promising to take care of her precious son.
Inko kneeled beside Katsuki and brushed her hand on his shoulder. “Katsuki, please, stand up.” She spoke in a soft tone.
The young boy slowly lifted his head, until he sat on his heels, but didn’t move from the ground.
“Katsuki, you don’t need to do this, actually you don’t need to do anything. You already proved yourself. You saved Izuku’s life and you take care of him all the time. You make my Izuku genuinely happy.” She reassured with a smile and then she gave a quick glance to her son who was holding back his tears. “Besides I can't realistically forbid him from dating you, he would do that anyway.” She sighed in defeat.
“Thank you. I still promise to do my best.” He said firmly.
Inko nodded and squeezed his shoulder before getting up. Izuku didn’t leave time for Katsuki to get up and threw himself over him at full force. He hugged Katsuki closely and cried, wetting the other boy’s t-shirt. Izuku was sobbing and mumbling non stop, while Katsuki playfully rolled his eyes and tried to calm him down.
“Guys, eat your breakfast. We have to visit the Bakugo’s later.”
Mitsuki’s yelling could be heard the exact moment they rang the doorbell. “Look who decided to show up again! What the fuck did you have in mind? Do you have any idea of how worried we were?”
“I can leave the house when the fuck I want old hag.” Katsuki grumbled under his breath.
“What? Repeat that if you’re brave enough.”
“Darling, please we have guests.” Masaru intervened, shutting up her wife. He gently smiled at Inko and Izuku and invited them inside.
They all sat down in the living room, the boys on a couch and the parents on the other. Mitsuki thanked Inko for the inconvenience of hosting Katsuki, even if she assured it had not been a problem at all.
Masaru looked at his son with a deep frown on his face, something Inko had seen only on rare occasions over the years she had known him. “Katsuki, I want to be clear: you may not be a little kid anymore, but you can’t disappear like you did yesterday. We were really worried about your safety and we know you’re a hero, that’s exactly why we were thinking the worst.”
Inko observed as Katsuki subtly tightened his grip on Izuku’s hand, shame and guilt covering his face.
“At least leave a note next time you choose to sneak out with Izuku.” Mitsuki groaned. “By the way, the fuck is going on between you two?”
The boys looked at each other and a silent conversation was shared between them, then they nodded and began to explain what happened. Apparently they had kissed out of boredom, and Izuku thought he was taking advantage of Katsuki, because he liked him and now he had an excuse to kiss him, even if just for fun. While Katsuki was hurt when Izuku said it was a mistake, because this was the proof that Deku would never like him back.
“I came to his room to talk and we decided to leave to not risk waking you up.”
“We solved our shit at the park with just a bit of fuss.” Katsuki added.
“Then it was late and I suggested we sleep at my home. So it was my fault in the end.” said Izuku in an apologetic tone.
“Clingy nerd.” Katsuki snorted. “Don’t make it sound like you kidnapped me.”
“Oh my God.” Mitsuki laughed loudly, smacking her hand on Masaru’s thigh. “We raised a dummy.”
Inko and Masaru also chuckled. “Micchan, don’t be so harsh on them. When we were their age, we also acted dumb. Maybe it’s genetic.”
“Sweetheart, when we kissed I didn’t doubt if you liked me or not.”
“YOU WHAT?!” Izuku and Katsuki shouted in unison, with eyes wide open.
Mitsuki shrugged and put her arm around Inko’s shoulders. “We dated when we were in high school. But our parents didn’t approve.”
“We broke up, but we remained friends.” Inko explained. “We didn’t tell you before because we thought you were too young to understand.”
“And you knew about their past relationship, old man?” Katsuki found the will to ask.
Masaru smiled and took his wife’s free hand in his lap. “Of course. After she asked me out on a date, Mitsuki introduced me to Inko and she said she was her ex-girlfriend turned best friend. So if I wanted to continue our relationship I had to suck it up or go fuck myself. I chose the first option.” He grinned and kissed the top of Mitsuki’s head.
Izuku was curling up on himself, trying to hide his blushing face, probably dying from embarrassment. Katsuki had thrown his head back and was visibly cringing, cursing between clenched teeth. “Fuck! I can’t believe I’m more traumatised by this than actually dying.” “I’m asking Shinso to erase my memory.”
Inko thought that maybe they pushed too far for their sons’ mental health, but then she noticed how Katsuki got closer to Izuku’s ear and whispered a little secret to make him laugh; how his son relaxed a bit and hugged his boyfriend’s arm, resting his head on his shoulder, and gave him a carefree smile.
Maybe she wasn’t the best mother in the world, and maybe she struggled sometimes to understand Izuku, but she had promised to herself to never make him feel wrong for loving someone. And she had fully succeeded in this.
“In the end we raised good brats.” Mitsuki commented bedise her and she nodded in agreement.