Momo's eyes widened at the image in the phone in her hand. Silently, she passed the phone to Yuga before taking an awkward sip on her drink. Yuga emitted an expressive "awww!" at the picture before he then continued to pass it aside. The group had gone silent at their booth, where they finished off their meals at the mall's food court.
"Ribbit! How do you feel about having siblings?" Tsu asked, smiling brightly at the picture of her brother and sister. The news was too heavy for her to carry, so Kairi finally spilled the details about everything to her friends. Momo already knew of course, but the others were not aware of the contact she still had with her mother. They were momentarily concerned until she reached the new twist about having siblings.
"I mean, I guess I feel a hundred things," Kairi said before she swallowed a bite of her hamburger. Tsu handed the phone to Izuku and Uraraka, who looked over the photo together. Uraraka cooed, Izuku let out a small chuckle. Kairi swallowed. "I felt betrayed at first, but also I shouldn't be surprised considering my mother. Then I felt shocked, which then led to a moment of depression because I never met them. Then I thought about getting to meet them and I was excited. Then dread..."
"So essentially, you experienced every emotion in a manner of a minute?" Iida said, taking his look at the phone before giving it back to Kairi. "Why do you think she waited so long to tell you? And why now?"
"Because she's selfish," Kairi snapped, looking at the boat of fries sadly. "I think there is something in her that cares about me and that's why she wants to maintain a connection but I also think there's the selfishness of wanting to be associated with a rising student at UA high school. But she also didn't want me to ever encounter the rest of my family because I still scare her so she didn't want say anything to me or her kids about each other. But now I'm making headlines and she wants to soak up all the attention and make it about her. So she decided she could handle me for a little bit in order to receive the attention. She knew I wouldn't want her to come. She's probably figured out I'm trying to cut her off, she's not dumb." Kairi paused for a drink while her friends waited. "So she decided to use the kids because she knew I couldn't say no to her if I found out I had a brother and sister. She figured I would want to meet them."
"That's incredibly manipulative," Momo sighed with a sorrowful expression. "I am so sorry."
"And Todoroki knows about this, I take it?" Uraraka asked, in place of Shoto's absence. He was spending his free time visiting his mother that day. Kairi nodded.
"Yes. He was getting ready to leave last week after D and D when I got the news. That's why he decided to..." Heat flooded her face and a hand flew against her mouth. Her mind sparked with the striking thought they had no idea he had spent the night with her. She coughed, covering her pause and Yuga stood up with concern lining his face. "I'm fine... Anyway, that's why he decided to stay a little later. He got back into his dorm a little past curfew but I was a mess."
"And you want them to come visit you?" Yuga asked. Slowly, she nodded. There was an echo of guilt in her expression.
"I do. I don't want to see my mom but I want to meet... my siblings. If something happens and my mother decides I can never have any association with them I at least want to have met them and know them. Maybe in 14-16 years they'll then decide to come after me and I can be around them then." Her stomach balked. That was an entire decade and a half. She really had no desire to be bonded to her mother any more but for her brother and sister's sakes...
"If you need us to stand by you, we will..." Tsu remarked proudly.
"Yeah! If it's too much for you to handle meeting them alone, we'll be right there with you!" Yuga said with a dramatic flourish as he rose from the booth again. "Of course, they'll be charmed to meet me! I can win over the hearts of anyone! And I choose only the most dazzling people to associate with so of course they will adore you!" He winked. Her chest lightened with a subtle laugh.
"Just tell us what you need," Momo smiled. "And we'll supply it." The weight thinned out as Kairi fell back into her chair. Something about just knowing that whatever came her way her friends would guide her through it just eased so much of her dreaded anxiety.
"You know what might be fun?" Uraraka said. "What if you bought them some fun toys for when you meet them? You could give them gifts! They would love that!"
"Yeah, we could help you pick some out!" Iida nodded. The group became vibrant again, discussing ideas for what Kairi could purchase them. She warmed at their talk, proud of the way her friends were so supportive. It was hard to believe she hadn't known them her whole life.
Her phone's alert distracted her from the hubbub and she flicked open a message from Shoto.
Everything go all right? - S
Yeah. I just told them about the sibs. - K
About us? - S
Working my way up to it. What did you mother say? - K
She cried and she hugged me and she told me she was so happy for me. She wants you to come visit again soon. - S
I'll make a point to do that. Everyone else is trying to drag me to the toy store to buy gifts for my brother and sister. - K
That actually sounds like a good idea. Just don't get absorbed by the stuffed animals wall they have there! - S
Come on, Shoto. It's me. Of course I'm going to get lost in the stuffed animals and you'll have to drag me out kicking and screaming. - K
Well, your dad is a cop. I'm sure I could call him up and he could embarrass you by arresting you in the store. - S
Yeah, that's the next thing I need! Another snapshot of me in the news except this time I'm getting arrested! - K
Well, then don't get swallowed by the stuffed animals and all will be well :) - S
Oh you're no fun! - K
Fine, I won't spend the night in your room again ;) - S
Nooo! Please I want you to! - K
... Wait for real? You want me to do it... again? -S
She reddened at the text. Moisture formed on her palms and the phone started to slip from her hands. She gasped and snatched it just before it hit the floor - but then a snap of white light cut off her vision. Kairi followed the shuttering noise and then looked back up at another flash of light.
"We're trying to eat here," Iida said sternly.
"I apologize, I just wanted to get a few pictures," said the photographer as he twisted the lens on his camera. He raised back up to his face before Uraraka rose to clap the camera away from his hands.
"He said we're eating. We want to be left alone," she hissed. He groaned, but held up his hands to show his defeat.
"All right, I won't photograph you while you're eating. But you're the Emotive Iris, right? It's strange to see you with the rest of UA and the Todoroki boy not in attendance." Her rage growled in her gut as she cradled her phone in her lap.
"True, we're close. But our lives don't revolve around each other," she grumbled, eyeing him with warning.
"Perhaps not, but what is going on with you two? Are you a couple?" While guilt swirled within her, the rising fury overtook it.
"Why do you care? The type of relationships I have with my friends, who my enemies are, the people I associate it... my personal life is none of you concern."
"People want to be able to relate to you. They want a hero they can trust, they can be friends with. Knowing who you like, who you don't... they'll become invested in who you are and you'll be that much more loved."
"I have enough love. Love that isn't transactional." She looked across the people in front of her, smiling gratefully. "That's all I need. I'm training to be a hero for the benefit of others and not for myself."
"Now, if you would ever be so kind..." Yuga said sweetly with a condescendingly grin. He rose from the booth and waved brightly to the paparazzo. "I hope you enjoy your day! Now please, let us alone!" Disgruntled, the man rolled his eyes and made a show of stomping away. Kairi sipped at her drink, looking across her friends with pride.
After having eaten til they were sure to burst, the whole group shortly found themselves in the large toy store. Kairi made a beeline for the stuffed animals, squeezing a large smiling otter before Momo finally ripped the animal from her hands.
"We're not here for you," she said.
"But they hold hands while they sleep so they don't float away!" Her tone was almost exactly like that of a young child not getting the toy they want.
"So you're an otter then?" Momo chuckled. "You need your hand held so you don't float away to parts of the store to buy things for yourself?" She offered a mocking hand. Kairi pouted and cross her arms, appearing like a defiant child.
"Well, you have that right," Tsu chimed in. "No one is otter than you Kairi!" Uraraka and Izuku snickered beside them, while Kairi rolled her eyes with an audible sigh.
"I'm leaving you all behind!" she shouted, running back towards the other end of the toy store.
"Kairi, there's a jumbo sized elephant here!" Yuga sang on the other end of the store.
"WHERE?!" she yelled.
"Aoyama!" called all of the rest.
While Kairi did certainly take awhile to become undistracted from the mountains of stuffed animals, eventually her attention was pulled to looking for toys for her siblings. Without much interest to go on and not wanting to assume their interests, she finally settled on toddler friendly blocks for her brother and a pretend food and dining set for her sister. They finished their purchases and a gentle fluttering warmth resounded in her as she clutched the bags. She had been able to purchase gifts for her brother and sister. long had she dreamed about being able to do things with and for siblings before and now, it was all coming true. She hugged the bags tight as they exited, following the group to the next stop. Her phone dinged and she reached for it, looking at a photo Tsu had posted online.
moodyriri would not let go of that elephant! And indeed, it was a picture of her clutching the three foot tall stuffed animal that her father would have been livid about if she purchased. Even so, it was incredibly plush and from the corner, the viewer could see Momo trying hard to pull her away but also trying to keep herself from laughing.
Almost immediately after it's initial posting were two more alerts - both from Shoto. He liked the picture and then left his own comment.
Seriously Tsu? Elephants and stuffed animals are dangerous for her. Who let her near it?
Tsu could be heard chuckling beside her as she looked at her own phone, typing away.
You can blame Aoyama for that one!
Kairi's steps bounced as they walked along, her spirit free surrounded by those she cared for and knowing... that back at the dorms Shoto was waiting for her. He was likely heading back and by the time they reached the dorms, he would be there with a smile on his face and ready to greet her. She felt the grinning of her heart and could not prevent the stupid goofy smile from reaching her face. A boyfriend. She had never dreamed it would be possible and yet he was there. Her boyfriend. Shoto Todoroki was with her and by the looks of it, he seemed rather proud. She enjoyed this outing with her friends, always proud to have them by her side. But there was no denying that a part of her was rushing to hurry up and get back to him.
"Guys, listen there's..." She stammered, but her insides were soaring so high it was hard to get a handle on her words. "I have something else I need to tell you. Obviously because I don't want it getting to media and there are people around us I would rather not know I want... I want this kept between us all b-but..." Fingers wound tightly around her shopping bags. "Shoto and I, we... erm... It's been a week already but we've decided we're... boyfriendandgirlfriend." Uraraka's own shopping bags dropped from her hands.
"Oh my god, ma cherie, that took you forever!" Yuga drew out his words, expressing his boredom for the news. "It was obvious it was going to happen soon, but honestly it was stressing me out how long it was going to take you."
"That's really great!" Tsu exclaimed, patting her shoulder. "Of course we won't go blabbing about it. We'll keep it between us!"
"Just remember to keep up with your schoolwork and not get too distracted by each other in class!" Iida teased in his cheesy way.
"That's exciting!" Uraraka said, picking her bags back up. "How do you think his dad's going to react?"
"We're choosing not to tell him," Kairi replied sheepishly. "His dad doesn't exactly like me."
"That's impossible, how could anyone not like you?" Momo said, reaching behind her for a quick hug.
"Uh, well my mother clearly doesn't," Kairi half-joked with a hurtful air to her comment. Momo frowned, sadly.
"Are you going to tell her when she gets here?" Izuku asked. Kairi shook her head firmly.
"No. She doesn't need to know. And knowing I am dating the son of the number one hero would only make her worse. She would blab about it to the media and use the fame and attention I got from that to feed off of herself. No. There's no need for her to know and I refuse to tell her."
"Then we shan't mention it strictly outside of us!" Iida agreed, walking alongside the group as they headed into a gaming store.
"Ooh, are you going to spend Valentine's Day with him?" Uraraka asked.
"You should make him some chocolates!" Yuga suggested.
"I don't know if that's something we really want to participate in?" Kairi said, scanning the titles for something in particular. "I mean this is new to us and I'm not a huge baker. I can cook but..."
"You should try something small then!" Yuga continued.
"Ooh, what if you tried different fruit flavored chocolate?" Uraraka suggested. The conversation quickly turned to the best different combination of chocolate and fillings. Kairi sighed in defeat, shaking her head. She laughed all the same, deciding it didn't matter. Her major stresses of the day had flown from her chest and she was hanging out with some of the people who meant the most to her. Most of the day, she was so wrapped up in her time with them, she barely even noticed the crowds.
The world is really scary and crazy right now, and it can be really anxiety triggering for many people - me included. If reading fanfiction helps you during this time of chaos and social distancing, then I hope my writing brings you some sort of comfort. Like so many people, I am quite a bit nervous about the things happening outside and being able to write this for you is giving me a kind of outlet. Thank you so so much for your enjoyment of this story, and giving me an audience to right for. It really is something I enjoy doing and I am forever thankful for your support. If the world is really freaking you out and/or you're holed up in self quarantine, know that I am right there with you, and if you need someone to vent to or just talk to someone who understand and is feeling the same, you are more than welcome to message me. I will happily read and reply and while I may not give you some sort of comfort, I can definitely listen. :) I love you all my dear readers, I hope you are all safe and I would every single one of you if I could. So please accept my love and my virtual hugs! :)
