It was after school and four students could be seen in a dessert shop near the prestigeous school for elites children. Chatting with her friends while drinking from a glass of strawberry milkshake, Ina was enjoying her free time before her brother's birthday party. Sometime not delving into her power and training were enough to enjoy one's life. Despite the growing unrest in the criminal world, most of it only came from low-level starters who were beginning to dabble in more serious crimes and facing the full brunt of the vigilantes' and underground heroes' activity.
" A chocolate parfait, a creme brulle cake and another milkshake for you girls."
" Thanks. "
Ina only offered a nod while the other three gave their thanks orally. The latter returned to their discussion of school life, of how their parents had been too strict, basically house-specific subjects. Maybe they had run out of things to meaningfully chat about, they switch the conversation back to Ina, who was trying to take as little space as possible while holding her second cup of milkshake. Seeing six eyes looking at her, she could only begrudgingly sit back uo and faced the torrents.
A girl with purple flowy hair and literally starry eyes, her name was Stella if Ina remembered correctly, began to cry out for more time together. Aside from school, Ina disappeared into thin air and she could not be contacted. Stella claimed that such things would dampen this tightly knitted friendship. Her tone was so melodramatic and serious, which greatly conflicted with her personality, almost brought out a full laugh from Ina (mostly since it was stil a smirk). At some point, even Momo joined the play, her hand resting on her forehead and fake tears could be seen rolling down the beautiful face ( her quirk was useful for theatrical effect) . The short girl with beige twintail hair sitting opposite of Ina, her name Bronya, was also nodding along the flow of the two friends putting on a play.
" Ok Stella, Ina must have understood our predicament. But let's go to that issue."
" Eh really? Can we just ignore it?"
" No, how can we, your closest friends, ignore your predicament? Hey Ina, Bronya, Stella just received a love letter this morning."
That was not how one touched upon the topic of teenager's love life, Ina though as she continued sucking the straw and trying to find any remaining shake from the glass. She was not really listening to the details and was more interested in the second shake. Sneakily pulling the glass, she heard the three of them were discussing about tactics. It seemed Stella had received a love letter from her crush and from the morning lack of discussion, it seemed she had hidden it. They were talking about the clothing to wear for the first date and where to go, ignoring the much needed response to the letter. Or maybe they had already gone through that.... Ina did not care.
" Oh, you will need real experience. Let's ask Ina-chan!"
Almost choking when hearing her name, Ina looked up from the glassware to see a pair of eager eyes and two pairs of confused, but nontheless curious, eyes.
" Momo, what are you talking about? And why are you pulling me into this mess?"
" Do not try to hide from me. I have heard from your brother whenever I come by to visit you. A piece of expensive chocolate is enough to pry the info out of his mouth. "
He would be dead with me tonight, Ina thought as the Stella and Bronya began to shake her.
" Why did you betray us!"
" B-Be-Betray what?"
"When we first found this friend group, we all promised to inform others of matter like this!"
' Let's just play along then. I clearly remember no such thing. '
" So how did you first meet your boyfriend?"
Bronya injected, cat-like sapphire eyes gleamed at the pinned Ina and hand ready with pen and notebook.
" If you do not talk, I, Momo Yaoyoruzu, will. Your brother shared quite a lot. "
" Fine, I met him through my brother. Akai was lost and he helped him. And he is mot my boyfriend!"
Wriggling finger, Momo smiled and asked.
" You keeping hiding details behind intentional truth, since when?"
"... Seven."
Stella and Bromya were grasping. They had only thought that the time would be recent like last year at most, not since Ina was seven years old. They had to give her respect for truthfully answering.
" Let's continue. Last weekend, you were not available for our mall trip. Were you with him?"
" No, I was at home diligently sleeping."
" Your brother said otherwise. "
' How much did he blabber on?'
"...At the gym, and ... amusement park."
" Together?"
"..."
It was weird that a fourteen years old was going to the gym but knowing Ina's strength, the three could overlook that as just personal training. Personally, they could not do that and maintain a body like Ina. Despite her strength, the skin was soft, elastic and offered no clue to the strength beneath.
But then an amusement park? Did she really ditch them for a date? This demamds ...compensation.
" And I guess for most of the times when you rejected our offfer is to make time for your boyfriend?"
"No, and again, he is not a boyfriend. We are friends, close friends, that's it."
Stella and Bronya seemed to believe that but not Momo. She had known Ina personally long enough to figure out something from the details: her earlobes were quite red and the voice was colder than usual when rejecting something. But at least she would still give her some face. She had already known quite a bit from that blabbering mouth of Ina's brother so she could only let the long game between Ina and him continued. The result was as good as guaranteed and at least Momo would have something to poke fun at her friend.
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Inko Midoriya was chopping some potatoes for today's soup in the midst of a new album from Hirokashi blaring from the old radio on the countertop. The jazz song filled the space with a peaceful atmosphere, mixed with the periodical chops. Izuku was standing behind her, unsure on how to start the conversation with his mother. He had received the information just that day: next week would be the time and Sapporo, Hokkaida would be the place. True to that trespasser words, winter clothings would be much appreciated as the place was renowned for its coldness. Worse, it was fall and the pre-winter temperature was still dropping.
Decided to wait till she finished her preparations, Izuku continued standing behind her. He was not that good at communication with people even though now it was his mother. He was sure she would agree, stating that he was mature and grown-up enough for the trip. But there would still be some sadness inside her tone. He had thought that the feeling was from being seperated from her son but maybe there could be more... Izuku's mind kept drifting back to the letter belonging to his father. He had missed the man was a lie as he had not even met him face to face. But mother, she seemed to be looking at him through Izuku...
The chopping had stopped since who knew when.
" You seems to have something to say, Izuku. You have been standing behind me for a few minutes. "
" Eerhm... To begin with...um... you know that I have been a member of a group of robotics enthusiasts."
" And?"
" They are holding a meeting quite faraway from here, in Sapporo next week. Can I go?"
" You seems to be hiding something from me, aren't you, Izuku?"
" ...Yes."
" And will you mind sharing with me?"
" No! I mean I am afraid you will not understand and that maybe you will..."
From Izuku's mouth spouted a string of words, uncarijg for the listener's ability to understand. Blabbering on and on, he did not recognize the warm gazes filled with nolstagia Inko was sending him.
"... The two of you are similar in more ways than basic genetics."
That cut Izuku's long-winded monolouge. He could only let his mother continued after he knew whether the other person was him.
" Are you talking about dad?"
"You have always been sharp, independent and at the core, afraid of hurting loved ones. Your dad is the same."
" But why are you mentioning dad nie, mom? I mean isn't he ..."
" Because I have been thinking about him recently, comaping him and you in my mind. I have always done that subconsciously since your childhood change to become much more independent and have caught myself having these thoughts more and more often. You have grown by yourself to become my little Izuku but the apple never falls far from the tree. You resemble him a lot."
"..."
" You can go, Izu, but remember to write me something and answer me one question. Is it dangerous for a fourteen-year-old teenager?"
" No."
Lying without batting an eye, Izuku answered. He knew that the protection job needed him and it would be a lie to say that he was not interesting in a package for a Genius Society member.
" Then it's fine. You have already known that I am not as strict as the normal parent most people come to expect. A part of that comes from your maturity and intelligent so I don't really have a lot of things to be wary of in your place. Just prepare fully, up there is quite cold this time around. Now just wait for a minute, dinner is almost ready."
'That was easier than expected.'
Izuku thought back. Maybe his leaving for Sapporo somehow alligned with his father's image in Inko's mind. Maybe she had found out something and that was the reason she mentioned father, or maybe ... no use for what had already done. Let's just focus on the future, Izuku thought as dinner was served. The meal time was enjoyable.
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" Onee-chan, you actually come!"
" Don't sound so surprised of your sister being there for you at your birthday party. "
Ina was there, dressed much more elegant and formal than usual as per her mother's request: black dress, aimed to highlight her white skin; high heels, according to the beauty standard; no makeup and simple styled hair, something about the addition would hinder natural shine; and a touch of rose perfume, her noses hated it. The party, despite supposedly only a brithday party, was filled with guests from the political worlds and those at the top of companies.
" We will have a private party later. This is how dad helps us form connection so enjoy you time."
Hearing the whisper of her brother really enlightened her of the purpose. At least she would play the part of the host's daughter for now. Walking around the venue, she greeted guests and engaged in conversations with them. With some of them, she paid her nods and greeted them with superficial actions. For other more important figures, she discussed market news, stock trend, politics and many more. Most of those she talked to did not look down on her age and engaged quite passionately.
Then came these people's family. The spouses were fine overall with the women asking her about future prospects including university, career and some even dared ask a fourteen years old about marriage. She diverted the conversation back to things like fashion trend but that led to exclamations about how pretty she was and how perfect she would fit in any style.
Heading back toward her brother, Ina managed to salvage the few remaining desserts, her spoils being chocolate macarons and buttery, rectangular pieces castella cake. Seeing his sister approached, Akai turned toward her.
" How is this meet up, onee-san? "
" Boring and exhausting. I have already gone all over the place to entertain guests. Now, where are your friends?"
" Oh... so there are only two of us and the sniper outside are here?"
" Yes. Did dad tell you about the security force? Wanna play spot the sniper onee-chan? Just think of it as killing time before the real party. "
The two began spending their next ten minutes of competing against one another. Leaving the guests behind, they engaged in something both found fun. Ina lost the game because she never really tried. She was thinking about what to say when Akai, her younger brother, interrupted her train of thoughts.
" Are you ok? You look out of it.
" Now I understand why you always have sleep over for birthdays. Late party like this is the usual for you."
" Well I am kinda used to it and besides, you never attend any of the parties so you do not know. Every year is the same formal party followed by the real one."
" ...Sorry."
" You, my sister, hate parties to dearh and would rather keep everything to the family. You make that very clear so you not attending is actually something completely normal. What brings this change of mind today?"
" Who knows? I just want to attend my little brother's birthday out of the blue moon. "
" So random, that sounds just like you."
" You dare to mock me now huh? Momo has brought to light something I know you would be familiar with."
" ...But I was just telling the truth! And who could resist chocolate from her?"
Ina grabbed her younger brother's shoulders and gave it an adequate force. He received the message and the aching really highlighted the point: later would be his death sentence.
Making sure that her brother knew he was in danger from her, Ina decided to leave this venue. It was almost over so taking off 30 minutes earlier would be fine. Stepping outside, she was standing there on the sidewalk, contemplating whether or not to run back to her home when a man approached. He was wearing a formal vest like businessman's, his grey hair was kempt and his aura spelled a normal man in his thirties. He was looking at her, gauging something. It seemed he had resolved what was on his mind and he began talking to her.
" Are you the daughter of Kenji Minaru?"
"No, I am not. Why did you ask that and who are you?"
" You just seemed familiar and I am his friend, Koichi. I apologize for calling you out."
Turning back and walking into a seculded spot beside a gym, she decided to run back and started removing her pair of heels. Then Ina felt a tingle of survival instinct. Immediately looking around , she found no dangers or out-of-place objects ... except for the man. He was staring toward her direction, his face plastered with a business smile. Peeking at him around the corner, Ina decided to go via rooftops. She quickly climbed upward and began jumping roofs, leaving behind the businessman.
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' That little girl... sharp just like her parents. And that lie is horrendously bad, too many holes to make a guess at the truth."
Rubbing his chin and sensing the location of his business partner's daughter, the man could only be astonished at the girl's speed. Proper training physically and yet nothing in terms of intelligence gathering and counter-gathering, the girl received such an imbalanced education, he lamented. He had heard of the younger brother's party inside from his informants but this girl had grapsed his attention much more than that slithering brother of her. She could.become a useful queen. Taking off to the sky after turning into an alley, he flew behind the girl, tracing the way back to his business partner in the past. Oh, how could he forget a reunion gift. He had an image to maintain.