SideStory #10

"Echoes"

Toshinori's home at the current moment was silent. A clear indication that everyone was asleep. Except for himself that remained active at this given hour of time. The spill along with the glass shards of the bottle Inko broke about an hour ago remained on the floor next to the table. Seeing that he had nothing else to do, along with the fact that Kaguya was not around, he decided to clean it up himself.

It wasn't a harrowing task to begin with anyway and hopefully it would clear his mind partially to the annals of his current predicament. Taking a used cloth to carefully sift out the shards along with a garbage bag to throw them in, he begun in a slower but orderly fashion. Much like how his master taught him about patience and the benefits of those who use it wisely. He smiled at that thought as he finally took the las of the shards and tying them inside the bag. Placing the gathered waste beside him, he used the cloth to slowly clean and wipe away the vodka Inko had spilled on the floor.

He wondered where she could have taken this bottle, as he never drinks alcohol anymore ever since the surgery years ago. But he did know that sometimes when he was invited to be a guest of honor in parties, political gatherings, official fan events, and so on…, they always left a souvenir or gift for him once it ended. He figured that maybe in some sense Kaguya had taken this bottle along on one of his more recent endeavors. Probably…

Not that it matters now anyway, as the bottle itself was lost and the only remnants that were left were on the glass Inko used that still remained on the table. After making sure that the tiled floor was clean, he gathered everything he used on the part of the kitchen where Kaguya collects their waste.

His eyes then drifted to the table where her drink lay.

Thinking of what to do with it.

If his master was here now, she may have in fact told him to relax himself for a little. Even with the stress that amounted the girl's current situation, he knew better to calm himself.

Be patient.

"Rational thought is better than thoughts laced with emotions that could either tip the balance of usefulness and misuse." His master would say. That was the main reason why Gran Torino was so angry at him after his master's death. Because the moment he knew what was happening to Nana Shimura, he rushed in and tried to save her. Screaming and tearing up in anguish. She had bid them both to leave so she could deal with him, to stop him with how much strength lay in her body. She even smiled one last time at him, reminding him that it was okay.

With a heavy heart, Toshinori bitterly sighed at that memory. Patience. That was the key thing that she taught her. Patience that he would groom to use once he held 'One for All' for himself. Patience that allowed him to be the hero he was now.

And it was also patience that he was trying to instill in Izumi Midoriya's mind.

He walked towards the table and sat on the chair Inko used earlier. She was asleep now upstairs… in his room. As much as he wanted to join her and hold her close, it was still a stupid though to entertain. Thoughts of which he still had a hard time understanding.

His eyes drifted on the glass before him.

Wondering what to do with it.

He was not eagerly allowed to drink alcohol as it would mess up his body's current state but with the way things are, he looked at the glass in anticipation. Wondering what would happen if he took a sip.

His fingers drummed on the table.

Eyes locked on its presence. Beads of sweat starting to form at the side of his head as his gaze on the glass never wavered. Perhaps… trying one sip wouldn't go bad right?

Nana Shimura his master was never a drinker herself, but when she had to… it was in the excess that she would enjoy herself. He even recalled Gran Torino and her having a drinking contest. With his age he could hardly recall who won since he himself was inebriated (with the shameful display of vomiting so much of his stomach's contents the next day), but he knew that Nana enjoyed the small things in life that made her smile.

Truthfully enough, she always told him about it day after day.

To never sacrifice his own happiness for hero work.

One of her biggest regrets too… after her son died. Having placed so much time on hero work, his master Nana Shimura barely had time for his family. But what did that mean to him?

What did he have in life that he considered special?

Being alone all this time was a necessity to him as well as an important detail he lived in. Being the top hero had grievances of course, that being that he had so many enemies. Having something special to him would be dangerous… and he knew the risks of it. Which is why he never tried nor done anything at that regard.

Ms. Kaguya was important to him. But she was hardly a thing to worry about.

Although maybe that notion of thought had changed.

Ever since young Midoriya barged into his life, he felt genuine happiness again. The likes he hadn't seen since Nana. Nana was like a mother he never had, and he took great pride and love for his beloved master. Izumi on the other hand, was now close to that. The girl was now everything to him. Her importance overshadowed his own right now… not just because she was now the holder of 'One for All' but also because he had a duty to protect the girl from the special situation she was in.

For some odd reason the attachment he felt for the girl transcended more than just master and apprentice at this point. He asked himself if this was what Nana felt about him.

He smiled at that thought…

Nana Shimura was rough at her training of him. In truth, if he had applied Izumi's training regimen close to what he gone through, the girl (while still likely to go about it) would pale more in comparison to the training he gave.

Izumi felt like family to him already… and much like Nana's failings, he promised upon her grave that he would never make the same mistake again.

He stared at the glass once more.

His hands taking hold of it as he moved it towards him closer.

His thoughts now drifted to Inko Midoriya and a question loomed over him.

What was Inko to him?

…

The gaze on the glas hardened. He always asked himself what the former villain of his meant to him. Back in the day he wanted nothing but to take her in and help her reform. The reason being was that he saw something in the woman…

A spark of someone lost in her own way.

Much like him after Nana's death. Although he managed to climb himself off that sadness and combat it with renewed purpose. Inko however, or Jade as she once was… did not. Her violent yet discreet ways were something that disturbed him the moment he first saw her…

But was it really the reason why he thought of her differently?

Was it?

He then managed to copy the instinctual gesture Inko did which was circling her thumb on the rim of the glass she used to drink with. He didn't know why but he did know that his thoughts upon the woman had changed drastically, drastically in how he saw her completely change after being absent from his presence for more than a decade.

The way she was now… which was a broken woman who tried to find new meaning in protecting her daughter spoke deeply to him.

Allowing him to help her with anything he had in hand.

However, was that the only reason entirely?

Did it stop there?

His emotions were different around her. The sense of something else filled him when she was there with her. Especially the time Inko and him nearly…

Kissed.

He shook his head in stupidity… thinking of these childish thoughts. He was in the middle age of his years now… barely younger than anyone here. Yet having such turmoil made him feel embarrassed with himself. He sighed and finally took the plunge as he put the glass to his lips and drank a portion of the alcohol in the glass.

Bitter… strong.

The aftertaste remained as he set the glass on the table again.

Wondering what he was doing as he put a hand and rested his face on it.

"Dramatic… too emotional still aren't you?"

An old familiar voice reverberated in his head. He opened his blurry eyes and saw that someone was at the chair opposite to him. A woman. Not just a woman…

But his master.

Nana Shimura.

"*Sighs… Toshinori, you're pretty much the same kid I met all those years ago convincing me to take you under my tutelage. That quirkless boy still remains in your features even with how far you've gone in life."

Nana was smiling at him. That smile. He then looked at his glass. It was simply surreal and unbelievable to see her… like this in front of him. A ghost of the woman he loved and took pride in was now talking to her. He asked himself if this was a trick of his mind, or the product of alcohol.

Still, seeing her made him tear up.

"Oh come now… would crying at me give you any benefit? I thought I taught you that-

"-Rational thought is better than thoughts laced with emotions that could either tip the balance of usefulness and misuse." He finished, he then smiled in happiness seeing her as this vision of Nana smiled back. "Is this real?" he asked.

"That's up to you…"

Nana placed her elbows on the table and rested her head on her palms. Her gaze directed at him specifically. Toshinori couldn't help but ask how lifelike she looked. Like she never died at all. He then felt the emotions of her death overriding him yet again, but Nana was quick to correct him.

"Never apologize nor feel sorry for the past boy. I did what needed to be done. I never regret the decision I made in making sure you lived… and thankfully with everything you accomplished now, I'm happy to say I abide with that decision wholeheartedly."

"Master… I'm sorry, but I'm just far too happy to see you. Even if this is… a dream of sorts."

Nana Shimura managed a ghost of a giggle.

"I'm happy as well Toshinori… I feel like a proud mother looking at you now and I never regret the decision of taking you in… no matter how weak and scrawny you were at first."

Toshinori laughed as the ghostly apparition seemed to shimmer as his eyes continued to blink.

"But I'm not here to say hi to you… I'm here to give you advice."

He perked up as soon as he heard that.

"As I have done to you my dear boy, I wish you do the same with the future of 'One for All'. With that said, follow where your heart lies and never hold back what is special to you… Never hold back the love and care you have for those you hold dear…"

Her form shimmered and Toshinori felt sadness as he wanted to continue seeing is master's smile.

But it was not to be.

He blinked his eyes yet again. He expected to see her…

But no one was there.

She was gone.

He looked at the glass and stood up while he held it. He then threw its contents on the sink and wondered what he saw. Wondered if it was real. He then placed the glass on the sink for Kaguya to wash tomorrow once she arrives and headed to the couch to sleep.

"Damn Alcohol."

SOMEWHERE IN ALDERA…

Himiko sat close to her bed. Holding a picture in her hand, she smiled to herself as she saw her sister. How happy they were in the picture together. The top half was torn in pieces, as the ghostly remains of the faces of their father and mother were removed entirely. Her sister's face was smiling like nothing bad had happened between them.

Like nothing bad at all had occurred in their lives until that point.

She smiled bitterly knowing that it didn't end well for both of them. Never ended at all in what direction it took nor what choice they made together.

The only reason she lived right now was to save her sister. No matter the cost, no matter the sacrifice that was needed. She would do it all to see that smile again. To be together with her as they escape everyone's grasp.

All her life was mucked in the color of RED.

The clear color that changed her mentally ever since everything changed.

She held that picture tightly in her hands as she frowned at what was to come next. She had choices of course… and decisions that could help her save her sister.

One of them was the plan she was orchestrating now.

A lesser of two evils…

The only thing her two clients had wanted was Izumi's DNA sample… and to claim that they needed information. A deal was struck between her and them in a simple phone call.

The plan was simple… she would tell them the ins and outs of the UA Campus School Grounds. Every bit of morsel detail she could accumulate to send to her clients. Hoping that whatever they planned would be discreet and wouldn't spell doom to both her sister's fate and…

Possibly Izumi's.

She didn't want her killed. In fact, she was scared with the show of force that his clients had threatened. They wanted her so bad but Himiko wanted assurance first of Izumi's safety against all of this. A deal was struck when the terms were met…

And right now, she was trying to procure every info she had about UA.

Along with the map to the school's interior.

She hoped that this was enough. Gambling for new allies to break her sister out wasn't easy…

But in time… she will free her and they will be together.

At that moment… should that happen, the color of RED would disappear from her mind entirely.

Or so she hoped…

TO BE CONTINUED…

We're nearing USJ holy shit... XD

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