Author's Note:

Greetings!

Thank you very much for your reviews, favourites, and follows! I'm glad that you enjoyed the extra. I have more for the futures and I hope you'll look forward to it. Today, I have some replies to your reviews.

First, to curlystruggle, who asked for their ages. Well, in chapter 6, they were in their fourth grade and they're all nine. In this chapter, which happens some time in autumn, they're in their fifth grade and they're ten. Just to be sure that everybody will know, I've included the information in the story. More info: Katsuki's born in April so he's the oldest, followed by Mikoto who was born in June, then Izuku who's born in July. This is according to the Japanese system, BTW. Hope this helps!

Second, a reply to everyone who now lowkey or highkey wants Mikoto to be Katsuki's sister. That was actually my plan at first, when I was still creating the mind map and everything. But then I realized that Izuku needed her more than Katsuki. Katsuki had both his parents with him, for one, but Izuku only had Inko growing up.

Besides, Midoriya Mikoto sounds better than Bakugō Mikoto to me. That's super important! For me, anyway.

And, a reply to Xalmtris, who asked where I got Moeka's flowers meaning from. Well, I just Googled it and clicked on the first link that appeared actually. So I can't help much with this, but if you Google it then just pick the most common meanings? And, I'm sorry for the late reply! I wanted to reply in the previous chapters but I forgot... I'm so ashamed of my memory.

Anyway, I think that's all? I'm in need of sleep because I have an exam in a few hours.

Happy reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Acadamia.

The Eyes Flirt The Most

Chapter 7 – Silence

It was bad.

So, very bad that Mikoto couldn't help the cringe. Her wide amber eyes were glued to the injustice that was happening right before her eyes. It was an inhumane sight.

Was that professional actually going to use the spiral perm solution instead of a colour intensive moisturizing conditioning shampoo on that poor lady?

Yes, that poor lady had a spiral perm done a week ago, but as she had her hair dyed that day, she should have the proper colour intensive treatment. This would result in a dry and ruined hair—more so than it already was from what Mikoto could see—and even if ruined hair could be hidden with proper styling, it still didn't change the fact that it was already ruined. Worse of all, it was already wrong to dye the chemical-tired hair of someone who just had a perm a week prior. That poor lady needed a treatment first, and fast.

Ugh, watching this made her so angry.

…

All right, she was being dramatic. In the first place, it wasn't even her business, and if it bothered her that much she could turn the TV off. That poor lady was also an adult and she could make her own choices.

This was because of puberty. Her mood was all over the place.

At the age of ten, Mikoto was experiencing the pain of growing a pair of breasts to add to the common growing pain. Of course, soon there would an incoming of unwanted hair and unwanted bleeding. One of the best perks of being a child was a freedom from all that trouble.

Groaning, Mikoto laid down, still watching the cruelty in the TV, when her eyes caught the sneaking green fluff. "Izuku?" she called.

Izuku jumped, inches away from disappearing into the hallway, and nervously turned his head to her direction, "W-what is it, Nē-chan?"

"Why are you sneaking?"

"Um, it's nothing," he showed her his empty hands, "I was putting my mug in the sink."

"Ah, I see." What an angel. Katsuki and his minions probably left their used mugs all over the place, creating a mess for their parents. "That was very helpful of you, Izuku."

He nodded shyly, "Okay, I'm going back to my bedroom." He mumbled, running off.

It was actually their bedroom.

Mikoto sighed. Her moodiness wasn't fooling her on this. Her brother really was avoiding her—somewhat. Perhaps it was because of his puberty, added with his clumsiness, but Mikoto had a feeling that it was something else.

Without Izuku's constant chatter and bubbliness, Mikoto found that she was often left pondering things. It was made worse with her hormone going haywire from puberty. Her mind constantly wandered to her previous life.

How was everyone? Were they sad when Lilith died? Had they moved on? Did time work the same there as it did here? Were they all healthy? Were they all happy? Did Lilith's parents remember to take their vitamins regularly? Did her sister's pregnancy go smoothly? Did Margot finally finish her new designs? Did Peter finally start his own interior design studio?

Such a shame all these questions would remain unanswered. For all she knew, Prince Harry had probably married Meghan Markle in that world. No, they probably had children already.

Mikoto didn't know if all these thoughts came because of curiosity, concern, or longing. She was happy with the Midoriyas. She finally found a place to belong—a place that accepted her openly for whom she was. In this place, she was loved and she could love.

Freely.

When she spaced out, she was reminded of all the bad things that happened in Lilith's life and fear crept closer, but then she remembered Hisashi's, Inko's and Izuku's presences.

They were Mikoto's anchors in this life. She tried imagining a life without them. It was not a happy thought. She'd probably go insane.

"Miko-chan, what are you watching?"

Mikoto sat immediately to make room for her mother; she was tall for a nine year old. Inko smiled and sat down. "It's a fashion reality show, Mama. These girls are competing to be the top model." Now that Mikoto thought about it, it was very similar to 'America's Next Top Model'—a show from Lilith's world.

"Sounds interesting." She paused, "Wait, it's in English and there are no subtitles!" Inko exclaimed in surprise.

"Hm?" Mikoto blinked. She didn't realize it. "It seems so."

"Do you understand what they are saying, Miko-chan?"

"Well," she faked a contemplative hum, "Kind of? Kaida-sensei is a really good English teacher. Besides, watching this is also a form a learning."

Inko's eyes and mouth were wide in awe. "Wow," she gasped, "Miko-chan, you are so amazing!"

She giggled, "You're exaggerating, Mama. I just study really hard is all."

"That's what makes it so amazing!"

Those words made Mikoto beam.

Lilith didn't get a reward for studying hard; she got a nod of approval for attaining the highest result. But Mikoto did, and for her, it was empowering.

For her family, she had to be perfect—to make them even prouder, to give them even more than she had already received.

Shuffling closer to Inko, Mikoto leaned herself against her arm, "I love you, Mama."

"Hm?" Inko giggled sweetly, "What's wrong, Miko-chan? You don't usually act spoiled." With her other hand, Inko caressed the tri-coloured locks tickling her arm. "But I love you too."

"I want the four of us to stay together forever."

"And we will." Inko promised.

In their fifth year, Mikoto and Izuku were finally placed in different classes. Mikoto was put in Moeka's new class, while Izuku was put in the same class as Katsuki and his little tree friends. Of course, it did not fare well for him.

Mikoto, on the other hand, hit jackpot. Free from Katsuki's influence, Mikoto's cuteness, wit, and intelligence could finally shine. She was easily the class's prima donna.

"Mikoto-chan, do you understand the lesson just now?"

"Of course, she does! It's Mikoto-chan, after all!"

"Can you teach me, Mikoto-chan?"

"Oh, me too!"

"Oi, Mikoto, teach me too!"

Plastering her cutest apologetic smile on, Mikoto stood up, her lunchbox in her arms, and said, "Sorry, but my brother is waiting for me. I'll teach you later, okay?"

"Aw…"

"Fine…"

"It's a promise, okay?"

"Sure. I'll see you guys later."

It was nice being admired and idolized. Mikoto didn't mind the spotlight, after all. She only wished she could have more leisure from them. Lunchtime was the only time she could spend with her brother at school.

Arriving at Izuku's class, she peeked in, only to find no green fluff. "Excuse me," She called out to the boy sitting by the door, who blushed at the sight of her, "Do you know where Izuku is?"

"M-Midoriya?" the boy stuttered, fixing his glasses, "He left after the bell rang."

"Oh. So you don't know where he is?" she confirmed.

"N-no. Sorry."

"It's okay," peeking at his open book, Mikoto smiled encouragingly at the boy, "You're studying even during lunch? That's really inspirational." Fog covered his glasses—was that his Quirk?—and he turned redder. "Good luck."

"T-Thanks!"

Now, to look for her little brother…

She found him, after exploring the building, nibbling on a rice ball all alone on the roof. She was admittedly a bit ashamed she didn't think of checking the rooftop, which was forbidden to enter.

"Here you are, Izuku!" she yelled, jogging towards him. Izuku jumped and whipped his head around, wide eyes staring at her in shock. Mikoto pouted, "You didn't tell me we're changing our meeting place." She plopped down beside Izuku, "Besides, the rooftop's off limits, you know?"

"H-hm…"

"Izuku?" she got no reply. The obvious conclusion that came to her was that her brother was ignoring her, but she knew him better. His silence was of the I-don't-know-what-to-say kind. She didn't know him all this years for nothing. However, it didn't change the fact that, "Are you avoiding me?"

He was avoiding her.

Izuku almost dropped his lunch, which was already on his lap. "H-huh?" he trembled and turned his head away, "N-no—"

"Well, then say it while looking at me properly." Her tone came harsher than she intended. She didn't need to see to know that Izuku's eyes were watering. She had never raised her voice at him. Where was that patience she was so proud of? Sighing, Mikoto continued in a kinder voice, "Did I do something wrong?"

"No!" Mikoto actually had to reel back when Izuku snapped his head her way—she was glad he didn't break his neck with that speed—and shouted at her. Noticing her surprise, he leaned away, flustered, "Sorry…"

"It's okay." Back to silence. "Then what's wrong?"

"It's nothing…"

It was awkward, very much so. It was different from the atmosphere that surrounded them when they were together. It wasn't bright, it wasn't warm, and it certainly wasn't very welcoming. Izuku told her there was nothing wrong but the way he was acting clearly showed otherwise. Nonetheless, Mikoto found it hard to pry.

This was one of the many parts of herself that she despised. She was open about her feelings, but at the same time she wasn't. She was open about the positive ones, but she hid the negative ones. Maybe it was because she was an independent person—she didn't want to make people worry—or maybe it was a defence mechanism due to Lilith's life. She had no idea, but she knew bottling it up inside was not a good idea. It's just that she couldn't help it.

Mikoto was naturally a contradictory person. She knew of this. She admitted it. She was honest, but at the same time she wasn't. She was extroverted, but at the same she wasn't. She was strong, but at the same time she wasn't. Even she sometimes felt tired of her own duality.

It was the first time she had ever felt thankful of Katsuki's timing. The door slammed open and the blonde devil waltzed in, of course, with his minions. "Oi, Deku!"

"K-Kacchan!"

"So you really are here. Don't you know that this roof's off limits?" Katsuki smirked evilly, "I should go tell the teacher!"

"Wait, K-Kacchan, please don't!" Izuku cried, "Sorry, I didn't mean to come here…"

"Liar! Aren't you two having a grand time eating lunch here?"

"T-That's—"

"—None of your business, is it, Kacchan?" Mikoto asked, cutting Izuku off before he could degrade himself even more, "You're going to tell the teacher? You always called me a tattle-tale, but I guess you're the same."

"Hah? I'm not a tattle-tale, Harpy!"

"But aren't you going to report us to the teachers, tattle-tale Kacchan?" even though Izuku never said anything to their mother, or even Katsuki's, for all the bullying. Mikoto would have had she not been worried her mother would react in an emotionally bad way. "And, Izuku," Izuku perked up, "There's nothing you need to apologize to Kacchan for. He isn't the teacher. It's none of his business if we want to have lunch somewhere off-limits."

Katsuki snarled, "You really piss me off."

Mikoto's lips curled into a smirk right back at him, "Same here, Kacchan."

In opposition to how he usually reacted to her talking back to him, Katsuki was strangely calm. In fact, he appeared happy with himself. Mikoto raised an eyebrow inwardly at the oddness.

"What are you grinning about, Kacchan?" she asked, her expression schooled. Her eyebrows were on the verge of twitching and her eyes were moments away from narrowing at the smugness he was sporting.

"Heh," he snorted. As usual, his shadows followed the unkind motion. "This proves it. Deku really can't do anything without his dumb sister."

"…What?"

This proves it, he said. Then this wasn't the first time that had come to his mind, or worse, out of his mouth.

Could that be the cause of why Izuku was avoiding her?

"Weak, dull Deku. Look at him. He's totally useless without his sister!" Katsuki taunted. His minions laughed as if they had heard the funniest joke of the year.

Mikoto was shocked. How could such a child harbour such bitterness? What had her brother done to make Katsuki treat him like this?

"I-I'm not useless!" Izuku fought back, much to Mikoto's delight. "I can do everything alone." Her delight plummeted. No, that wasn't what she wanted to hear.

But, it should be. She should be happy that Izuku was self-sufficient. But her heart clenched at his words and she hurt. He was too young, she concluded, there was no need for him to act all tough yet. There was time for that later. Right now, he should just let his big sister take care of him.

She tried to reason and justify herself, but there was no fooling herself. She was simply too attached.

"That's what you said." Katsuki scoffed, breaking her trance, "Lame Deku. You can't do anything right without your sister." Izuku's lips parted, tearful, about to speak up once more, but Katsuki wasn't finished yet.

To him, this must be the greatest moment. It was most fitting because Mikoto and Izuku were together, the former was confused, and the later was unstable. In his ten-year-old mind, this was the perfect moment to ruin their bond and assert his dominance.

"And she isn't even your real sister."

...

…

…

Mikoto felt like she had gone deaf. Her heart squeezed hard once, twice, thrice, before the crushing sensation was replaced by loud, painful thumping.

Her wide eyes stared at Katsuki, noting the smugness and satisfaction that he could feel because he didn't know what he had just done. He was a child, after all. They didn't yet understand what counted as a joke, what counted as an insult, and what counted as a taboo. That's why he could say something so unmentionable easily. He was still an unknowing child.

At least, that's what Mikoto repeated over and over in her mind to stop herself from launching herself at him. Her clenched fists hurt from the pressure of not breaking his nose.

"…Huh?" That one small noise caused a ringing noise in her ears. "What are you talking about Kacchan?" Izuku's voice was shaking but there was no stuttering, "There's no way Nē-chan isn't my—"

"Stupid Deku. You haven't realized?" Another scoff from the blonde, "You're always so obsessive about heroes and Quirks. How come you've not realized? Deku really is stupid!"

"Realized what—"

"Quirks are inherited from your parents. You either get one of them or a combination of both. So…" All eyes were on her. Mikoto couldn't breath. "Whose Quirk did she inherit?"

"Okā-san!"

Izuku slammed the front door open, removing his white indoor shoes haphazardly, stomping towards the living room in search of their mother. Mikoto hurried after him, their bags in her arms.

After Katsuki's—rhetorical question, she guessed—Izuku was off running out of the school building. Mikoto called out after him but he gave no respond. They were gathering attention from not only the students but also the teachers.

Seeing as he was certainly not planning to return there, Mikoto quickly gathered their bags before she jumped off the window at her classroom, gathering screams, and ripped the back of her dress in favour of flying after her brother.

"Okā-san!" Izuku's voice was shrill.

Mikoto ran into the living room. Izuku stood in front of Inko, out of breath, "Izuku, wait—"

"Izuku, Miko-chan?" clearly worried, Inko crouched down so she was eye-to-eye with Izuku, before she asked, "What's wrong? The school called and I was so worried. Did something happen?" her green eyes rolled to Mikoto, asking for an explanation. Mikoto looked away.

Their ransels—All Might and Sir Nighteye—slid off her shoulders, onto the floor, but she kept gripping their straps in her small fists.

"Okā-san." This time, his voice was trembling. "Miko-Nē-chan is my real sister, right?"

"What—" Mikoto remained silent while Inko gawked at her little brother, "—who—"

But that wasn't the reply he wanted. "Okā-san, Miko-Nē-chan is my real sister, right?" he repeated.

Inko's lips set into a thin line. She was panicked but she still refused to answer. Mikoto knew her mother well enough to know that the older woman was torn and confused.

So, to help her, she said, "You should answer him, Mama. Izuku won't listen to anything you say otherwise." Because for him—them—this was a matter of life or death.

"Miko-chan—"

"Please. Just tell him the truth." Mikoto begged. Izuku's shoulders shook. She couldn't tell if it hurt more when he was angry because he didn't know the truth or when he was sad because he realized the truth.

"You—" Inko choked, "You already know." It was said as a statement. A fact.

Mikoto nodded blankly.

"B-but how—"

Mikoto did nothing to reply.

"Oh no…" tears gathered in Inko's own eyes. She lifted a hand to cover her mouth, the other went to Izuku's shoulder. "How did you find out? W-what happened at school?"

"OKĀ-SAN!" Izuku cried, shocking the two females. He sniffled, "M-M-Miko-Nē-chan is m-my real sister, right?"

Inko gulped, "She is. Of course, she is." She stated. She tried to be firm but the shaking in her voice prevented it. "B-because a family is not something you acknowledge only by blood, but also by—"

"So, Miko-Nē-chan really isn't my real sister." It scared Inko how that didn't come out as a question or a confirmation.

"She is! She is your sister, Izuku! You—we aren't related by blood, yes, but we are a family. Miko-chan is legally adopted into our family. She properly has our family name. We love each other, don't we? She is a part of our family, not by blood, but by bond."

Inko's ramble continued on and on. Mikoto listened silently. She was feeling nothing.

Izuku, on the other hand, was feeling too much things. He sobbed into his sleeve. It wasn't a loud wail like when he was diagnosed with no Quirk and she told him he could be a hero. It was a silent cry of pain and betrayal.

"It's okay, Izuku." Inko continued trying, "She's your sister. She's your real sister. I promise. Please, please, stop crying. She is your sister. Miko-chan is our family. Right, Miko-chan?"

There was no response she could give. No matter how much she wanted to be their family, she couldn't if she wasn't accepted.

"Miko-chan?"

But she was a good liar. "Yes. Yes, of course, I am. Right, Mama?"

"Of course! Izuku, blood relations aren't everything. Okay? Miko-chan is our family and there is nothing that will change that."

In the midst of it all, Mikoto wondered when Izuku learned to be a liar. When exactly did that innocent, pure, honest-to-a-fault Izuku turn into a liar?

Because the 'okay' that came out of his mouth clearly wasn't the truth.

Izuku slumped silently on the sofa. His red and puffy eyes watched the hero news—the show he looked forward to the most daily—unseeingly.

Mikoto sat next to him, doing her math homework. "Aren't you going to do your homeowork, Izuku?" she asked to break the terse silence. It was unusual because she was never the type who felt the need to fill silences with words.

"I'll do it later."

She sighed inwardly. At least it wasn't a one-word response.

"Miko-chan, Izuku." Mikoto looked over the back of the sofa to see Inko walking over to them, several books in her arms. "I have something to show you."

"What is it, Mama?"

The older woman took a seat between them, putting the pile of books on the coffee table. She smiled comfortingly, "They're pictures of your late parents, Miko-chan."

Inko had explained what happened to Mikoto's parents after Izuku had calmed down some. Her father died of a laboratory accident and her mother died after giving birth to her due to unbearable stress.

Picking the album at the top, she placed it on her lap. Mikoto's amber eyes widened in anticipation.

Her parents were deeply in love with each other. That was made obvious even from the very first picture.

It wasn't a particularly fancy picture. It was taken by a third party. The man—her father—had an arm around the woman's—her mother—shoulders, grinning, an unlit cigarette between his lips. The smile on the woman's face was absolutely breath-taking, one of her hands on his chest.

Inko first pointed to her mother, "This is Jōka Miko-san. She's your mother, Miko-chan." Inko told her in a gentle voice. It was as if she was still speaking of a secret. "She's really amazing. She's very independent and she can do anything. In fact, you resemble her a lot in that factor."

Miko had short wavy grey hair with Mikoto's signature bubblegum pink and blue streaks. Her skin was pale, just like Mikoto's. Her grey eyes were the same colour as a dolphin's skin. She was a beautiful woman.

But other than the streaks and the pale skin, Mikoto was a splitting image of her father, who she had to admit, was…there was no word to describe how beautiful he was.

His long and ponytailed hair was obsidian black—like hers—and his skin was tan—unlike hers. He had a modest but attractive physical build and the same elven ears as hers, but his were bigger and longer. He had one standard piercing—an M made of grey moonstone. What resembled Mikoto to her father the most were their devil horns, devil tail and their eyes.

They both had amber eyes, albeit her father's were darker. His eyes were also sharper and cat-like, but one look and there was no doubting that she was his daughter.

"And this is," Inko pointed to her father, "your father. His name is Tenma Kohaku-san."

Kohaku, huh?

"So he's named after his eye colour?"

Inko chuckled, "Perhaps. "

"Then am I named after my mother—I mean, my blood mother?"

Inko patted her head, "I don't know." She absentmindedly turned the page. Mikoto examined the picture of them singing a duet in a karaoke joint, them sitting side by side in a restaurant surrounded by their friends, them feeding each other food, and last was a picture of Kohaku leaning in to give Miko a kiss. Each and every picture was packed with love and warmth. "I think that," Mikoto glanced up at her mother, "Jōka-san named you Mikoto because she wants you to live a long life.

"Mikoto is written with the kanji for life. I believe Jōka-san wanted you to live a long happy life with the people that you love. It also shows how much she loves you."

"Really?"

"Well, I believe so." Inko chuckled, "But I, at least, know that Jōka-san's name came from her what her parents wanted her to be."

Mikoto blinked in confusion, "And that was?"

"A priestess. Jōka-san's family owned a temple and her parents were really strict. When she told them that she was dating your father, they were very angry and she was disowned." Mikoto frowned. "Would you like to know what Jōka-san's Quirk is?"

Mikoto nodded excitedly. Her homework was forgotten. She looked over to her brother. He was examining the pictures silently.

"It's an amazing Quirk and it fitted someone as kind as her very much. She was able to transfer her life energy to others."

"That's amazing."

"Right? She was actually studying how to be a doctor so she could help people." It was left unspoken, but Mikoto guessed it was before everything went downhill for her. "Her parents were not pleased with her decision."

"Because they wanted her to become a priestess."

"Yes." Inko nodded, "And to worsen it all, your father's Quirk—"

"I have his Quirk."

Another nod, "That's right." Inko's hands moved to one of her horns. "I don't know what it is in detail. Jōka-san never shared anything too personal about him until her labour, but from the looks of it, you two share the same Quirk."

So the devil and the priestess fell in love. It seemed like the plot of a romance novel about star-crossed lovers.

"Jōka-san was really happy that you inherited his eyes. She said that they were the eyes she fell in love with."

"That's sweet. He did have beautiful eyes." Mikoto giggled. "Mama, can you tell me more about them?"

"Of course. You are curious too, aren't you, Izuku?"

The two females turned to Izuku, hopeful, only to be met with his blank face. "Mm-hm," he hummed in empty affirmation. "I'm sleepy so I'll go to bed first." He declared, removing himself from the sofa and walking off.

Mikoto's heart broke. "Goodnight." She said. No reply.

Inko, realizing her turmoil, quickly plastered on a fake reassuring smile, "I'm sure he's just tired. Now, shall I continue?"

Honestly, as curious as she was, Mikoto's heart was too heavy with worry now. After all, no matter how much interest she had or how much love she now had for her late parents, Izuku was her family now. However, she didn't want to make Inko worry.

"Yes, please."

"All right. I'll tell you everything I know about them."

Learning about her blood parents was fun. Honestly, Mikoto had never been that curious in them, because she considered Hisashi, Inko, and Izuku everything she needed. But now that the truth was out and Mikoto had this knowledge with her, she felt glad. Now her late parents had two more people remembering them and one was their beloved daughter.

Nonetheless, her inside was still anxious about her standing with her brother at the moment. Even the sky seemed to be experiencing the same emotions as her, raining and thundering hard.

She watched Izuku jumped and trembled every time thunder stroke in silence. Until finally, a whimper escaped him, and she spoke up, "Izuku. If you're scared, would you like to sleep with me?"

She received no reply.

"Okay. Feel free to come whenever."

Normally, he would come. He would always come. Mikoto had never been on the side to ask. Izuku was always the one whining about sleeping next to her. But this time was different and this change terrified her.

That night, Mikoto cried herself to sleep in silence.

To Be Continued…

Oh no... I was really fearing for this part. Well, I guess it's out now. We need this to go deeper into the story anyway.

I wonder if I have anything more to say. I'm so sleepy that I can't think anymore. Please allow me sleep...

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed that. Please leave this sleepy author lots of love.