Chapter 1
I'm moving out tomorrow from my home state in Orlando as I'm about to go to college. My mom insisted for me to take a science course ever since high school, so I enrolled in a university at California studying for a bachelor's degree in Chemistry, minoring in Psychology. And full scholarship, if I might add. It was a good thing that I love science and excel on it as a matter of fact, then my mom and I would be bickering if we ever had different opinions on the subject. But it would be just some harmless spat and we would immediately established some middle ground. Mom and I are pretty close. Ever since she became my only parent after my dad passed away from a lengthy battle with Leukemia when I was still at the age of a year and five months old. I never got to know my dad but my mom said that he loved me so much, the moment I came into this world he kept staring at me with a smile and saying "I'm your dad, Izuku" with the sincerest affection. He vowed to be a good husband and father to my mom and he would provide us everything we need. He was the one who passed down the ring I'm wearing on a silver chain around my neck right now. It was a family heirloom where he inherited it from his father. The ring dates back from four generations, originally owned by my great grandfather. It was a beautiful ring made from pure refined obsidian that shines like lustrous black marble with a light green tint. He was supposed to be the one to give it on my 18th birthday but sadly a month after my birth he was diagnosed of having cancer cells found in his bloodstream. Fearing the worst, he asked my mom to give it to me in his place. My mom as an optimistic had shrugged it off as a melodramatic statement. She didn't know that it would be too painfully true. My parents actually had the money for the treatments, but the cancer cells grew to rapidly and my dad went to stage 4 in a matter of months. He fought hard, yet unfortunately the chemotherapy couldn't keep up and his life slipped away in his sleep. Even though my dad was never there to raise me, I still love him and I would place hydrangeas, his favorites according to mom, on top of his grave every month ever since I was four. Me and my mom would stay there for hours and bring a picnic basket to have lunch. We would set up a blanket on the grass and I would tell stories of my everday experiences in front of my dad's gravestone, as if he was there to hear them.
It was 5 in the afternoon and I already packed all my things I'll be needing to move in the campus dorms. I was pretty exhausted from shuffling to my chores in the house, a mid-morning workout at the local gym, and for packing my necessities. So I crashed straight on my creaking bed and wait for sleep to take me a half hour later. I slept until daybreak and the sound of my alarm buzzing from my night stand woke me up on my dreamless slumber. The glaring red analog numbers read "7:00 p.m.". It was pretty early but I gotten off the bed and started to get ready for me to leave Orlando. The university website posted a memo for those who would be living in the campus dorms are allowed, but not actually required, of moving in their respective units a week before the first day of the semester. As a honorary scout, I prepared all my belongings in an orderly fashion as soon I was aware of the information. Now I'm ready to move in my dorm three days before the beginning of the classes. I did it so I could get acquainted with the people I'll be spending 5 years of my life. It'll be great to make a buddy or two before the freshmen orientation and upcoming campus festivities. So maybe settling early in the dorms would be a fantastic way for me to make potential friends on whom could be found in a dormmate. Hopefully. As usual everything is going accordingly to my time table. It's kinda annoying because how all of the people I've known thought of me at first as some clumsy idiot. It's because I would mutter things at the firing rate of a semi-automatic machine gun during class lectures as i write down my notes, on whom to others deemed, messy and undecipherable. Then they would be so surprised that I'm organized to a lot of other things and to plan ahead before time to a lot of happenings and stuff. Honestly, I actually don't mind, and I'm glad they're frank with me about it. Well I'm not particularly crazy with order and cleanliness but I just liked it that my things are neat and tidy. With that in mind, I sighed and started to clean my room for the last time, took a long shower and made breakfast. Soon after my mom woke up, smelling the coffee I pour into her favorite mug, which had "World's Greatest Mom" printed with big black letters inside a red heart, joining me at the kitchen counter. I think I remembered I bought it at Target on wholesale as a birthday present for her. When she got the set of six mugs she beamed happily and said it was a wonderful gift. She then immediately broke two of them at the backyard. She spray painted the other three black in which she planted succulents and gave them to me as a decor in my room. She then said "Thanks Izuku, but there could only be one "World's Greatest Mom" cup if there's only one "World's Greatest Mom" my sweet son". I think I laughed so hard that day and thought my mom is the silliest goofball.
At breakfast we talked about things, things about what am I expecting in college, am I excited of going to California, her own college experiences that shocked me cause I'm sure mom was not the crazy party girl type but from the way she told her stories say otherwise. Mentally cringing when she spent a night on jail for a D.U.I. and collateral damge to some poor guys lawn gnome collection. Seriously? What the heck, mom? We talked about some neighborhood gossip, that our neighbor and close family friend Yamazaki-san was coming home at 1 am one night with some "6 foot tall, hunky, green-eyed brunette angel in human form" from the local swimming club as my mom colorfully described. Which I clarified that the hot angel guy she was talking about is my swimming instructor in junior high, Coach Tachibana. Immediately that was a mistake because I could hear the gears grinding on her head thinking of a couple ship name for them and she would probably give Yamazaki-san a hard time with her constant teasing on how he manage to score an Adonis with his permanent scowl plastered on his stern resting-bitch face. She whined about the cat that we keep feeding our leftovers that it's getting used to coming over our backyard. Although we both know that we don't have it in our hearts to ignore the cute hungry furball. I joked that she should watch her diet that she's getting a little chubby but in reality she's still supermodel thin no matter what or how much she eats. I'm sure gonna miss this.
I mean it was practically just the two of us living together in this suburban neighborhood. But now I'm off my way to a new place, meeting with new people, and be making my own decisions. She won't be entirely alone though because his boyfriend would be moving in our house soon. Toshinori-san is a decent guy, real funny and real cool, and more importantly he makes my mom really happy, so I liked him almost instantly. I had my doubts first but as soon I got to know him, I knew that he was serious and that they do love each other. Wouldn't be surprised if they'll be engaged anytime soon. As I was forking down my fourth sausage link, mom stared out in open space with a sad look on her face. I know that she's gonna miss me as much I'm gonna miss her but she would be the one pushing me to take life head on with her full support and encouragement. We said our goodbyes right after we finished our meal and she gave me the biggest hug out in the front lawn. We smiled to each other and made promises about visiting in the holidays. I took one last look at the house with my mom leaning on the door. I waved at her and shouted to wish me luck at college. She motioned the dorkiest two thumbs up with a wide grin stretched on her oddly youthful face. I chuckled and get on the car, turning it on. I drove off and saw my mom went inside the house on my rearview mirror as I turned the corner. This is it. I'm going to college.