Is It Okay To Move On?

Part 4/4

Amari: Age 23

Strolling into the agency with the intent to apologize for his outburst, Shinso threw open the doors only to be met with a sea of unhappy faces, Bakugo and Kenji shaking their heads for some reason as the man approached.

"Hey, why does it seem like someone died in here?"

Yet he quickly got his answer when Amari appeared from the corner, Hawks following her very closely for some reason, almost like she was five seconds from snapping. What the hell happened while he was gone?

Seeing her sit down at her desk, the purple haired boy couldn't help but call out to her. "Amari, what's going on?"

Although that's when the girl simply stuck her hand in her pocket before slamming the paper on her desk a second later, her voice obviously strained. "Read it."

Not understanding, Shinso picked up the paper as Amari added bitterly. "It's Izumi's rejection to the agency, curiosity of the commission president.."

Widening his eyes, the man processed her words before forcibly ripping the letter open before reading the very formal language. She was right. The president, she had turned down the offer.

What did Izumi think about this, did she even have a choice?

He wasn't the only one that was furious though, hearing the girl's hands slam on the surface before standing from her seat. "AHHH That's it! I can't do this anymore! I'll be back…"

Keigo was there to stop her though, running in front of her and lifting his wings up with a frown. "Where are you going?"

His suspicions were proved true though when Amari growled. "I'm going to that stuffy commission president, slap her across her stupid prissy little face and bring our sidekick back because that son of a bitch has no right to tell Izumi what to do…"

And though the idea sounded inviting to everyone in the room, they knew it wouldn't fix anything, Kiego sighing roughly. "Chickadee, as much as I would love to see that we have to think smart. Maybe this is what Izumi wants…"

Although Amari only scoffed, throwing her friends arms off of her. "Excuse me? I already know she didn't have a choice in this. Come on, you know what that woman is like firsthand. That asshole just wants to control her life and I won't have it. Izumi is a part of our family now and I'm going to protect my family…"

It was obvious to tell that the girl was ready to kick down the door to the commission to bring Izumi back, causing Katsuki to smirk under his breath. "I'm in, let's go take down that old hag..."

Nodding back, she pointed to her brother before crossing her arms, like what they were saying was the most logical thing in the world "See? Katsuki's with me.."

Keigo only threw his arms up though, anxiety clear on his face as he used a few of his feathers to stop Katsuki from moving. "That's because you are both insane! There is no way I'm allowing you to go in there, not without a plan that is…"

Frowning at his disapproval, Amari then turned to Shinso before adding him into the conversation. "What do you think Toshi? You think the president forced her to quit? You know her the best out of everyone.."

And usually Shinso would have shut down the very idea of Izumi quitting but after their argument yesterday, he wasn't sure anymore. Maybe she finally got sick of him after he snapped at her?

"I don't know.."

Groaning in response, Amari closed her eyes before running a hand through her hair. "You can't expect me to just stay here and let that bitch win, right?"

Although that's when Keigo took a step closer before looking at her with as much softness as he could muster before she snapped completely. He could tell she was trying and the bird was thankful for it.

"Of course not but you also aren't a little kid anymore. You can't just keep using these reckless plans and hope everything works out. I know you want Izumi back, we all want her back. But you're not alone anymore, you have other people to rely on now. So, let's just think about this for a second okay?"

And as much as she hated it, Amari knew that Keigo was right in a sense. If she rushed into this the commission could make her friends or family suffer and that wasn't something she was going to risk. Getting Izumi back, she couldn't do it by herself.

Groaning at his words, Amari responded by throwing her friends off and immediately turning around without a word as Katsuki called back. "Where are you going now?"

Although she only answered straightforwardly, like she was forcing herself to relax and not go full "Bakugo" "I'm going to focus on not fucking punching something..."

Throwing the door open to the roof, the female Bakugo then slammed it behind her as everyone looked in the direction where she left, Keigo letting out a sigh of relief.

"Well, we defused that bomb at least..."

Yet the only thing Shinso could think about was Izumi and how she must have been feeling. Was she lonely, did she miss him? Was she crying? He didn't know and that internally scared him.

This was all his fault. If he hadn't yelled at her then he could've just talked to her about this whole thing but it seemed like he didn't have the right anymore. He had destroyed that the minute he yelled at her.

Why did he even act that way in the first place? She only cared about him from the beginning. God, he was such an idiot.

Looking towards the direction where Amari went, the boy couldn't help but hear Izumi's voice in the back of his head, the one she chose to ignore until now.

"I-I know I wasn't there...but it shouldn't only be about.. what she wants. Y-You matter too, your feelings are valid too! S-She may have gone..through a lot but so have you..!"

But it was about what she wants, it was always about what she wanted, ever since that training camp when he realized his feelings. She was happy with Todoroki, she was happy without him next to her.

She never looked at him that way, and that was okay.

Although he couldn't help but feel his heart twist in pain at the idea of all of these years, the words that hurt him unknowingly, the ones that she never once understood. He was in a constant limbo, always hurting, always forcing himself to hold on when it would get him nowhere.

And now he had hurt Izumi as well, pushing his own unhappiness and bitter feeling onto her, causing her to cry even though she only cared for him. She looked at him and he only pushed her aside...

Now that he thought about it, Izumi was the only person that fully supported him, she even called him her most important person. It was something he had heard at Amari's wedding multiple times but the man always thought that he'd heard those words directed at him.

Did she really mean them? He wasn't sure but the man was determined to find out, to hear them once more pour from her lips as her frown turned into the same wonderful smile he has come to know since he had met her.

Balling his hands into fists, Shinso then realized that he wanted to fix what he had broken, to finally give himself closer for years of yearning and hurt.

But even after all this time, was it really okay for him to move on?

Looking out at the sky, Amari sighed as she tried to calm her nerves, sitting down near the edge on the building as she sighed roughly. The girl just felt so useless, unable to do anything even though Izumi was clearly suffering.

That's when she heard the door open before a familiar figure plopped down next to her before handing her a small plastic wrapped snack with a smile. "Take it."

Turning her head, Amari's eyes softened when she found Shinso offering her the very same snack she threw at his face during the sports festival. "Don't you want to throw it at my head for revenge?"

The man couldn't help but chuckle at that, recalling the action like it was yesterday. "Nah, because I'm the better person. I just thought you could use a peace offering in case you already turned full "Bakugo" on me.."

Rolling her eyes, Amari scoffed. "Yeah right. Although, I'm still pissed. Maybe I shouldn't have offered her a spot. I feel like it only put a target on that poor girl's back. She didn't deserve that.."

Shinso only hummed though, pushing his head towards the sky. "I knew you would do it, because that's just how you are. It's how you always are, believing in everyone even if they don't believe in themselves yet..."

That's when the purple haired hero sucked in a breath before speaking plainly. "Can I talk to you about something? You don't have to say anything. It's just kind of overdue…"

Sensing the change of atmosphere, Amari turned her brow into a frown before Shinso glanced towards her wedding ring and familiar gold bracelet that always mocked him before closing his eyes. Welp, there was no going back now..

"When I first met you at the sports festival, I thought you were just a prissy stuck up recommended student that used their status to get where they were. That's why I was so mean to you the entire time. But then you really proved me wrong..."

Shinso then clasped his hands on his lap before he continued lightly. "And once I found out about your health, I felt like I had to protect you, even though he was already being protected. I tried to stay away from you but then just like the selfless person you are, you kept changing my life for the better.."

"Without you I wouldn't have found my family, I wouldn't have improved my hand to hand combat, I wouldn't have realized that I was never actually alone. You were always there to support me, in everything I did…"

Amari felt herself smile at that before seeing Shinso's hand visibly start to shake, like what he was about to say was going to be really important.

"I really tried to be happy where I was, to live with that I was given. After seeing you try so hard to reach your dream, to suffer so much for your entire life I didn't want to add anymore conflict for you, so I pushed how I felt down. For years, I was satisfied with the fact that you would never understand how I really felt.."

Not understanding, her friend then slipped his hand towards Amari before grasping it, much to the girl's confusion..

"Amari, ever since high school, ever since the day that you saved me from that villain during training, ever since you told me that I wasn't a villain..…"

That's when Shinso smiled to himself before finishing lightly. "I always loved you"

Widening her eyes at his words, Amari's face grew pale in shock, her mind running at a million miles a minute. Wait, Shinso loved her? No, no that was impossible. This whole time, she never knew..

They had known each other for years and she had no clue. What was wrong with her? How long was he hurting all alone like this? When she kissed Todoroki, when she talked to him about her relationship, how much had that tortured him?

Shit, she needed to answer, right? That's what normal people did. "H-Hitoshi..I…"

Yet watching her reactions, he couldn't help but chuckle, knowing how she was going to react. "Don't worry about answering me. I already know you love Todoroki. You probably never even noticed how I felt and that's okay. That just means that you didn't feel the same. I always knew that.."

Reaching his hand up to her frozen face, Shinso then lightly trailed a couple fingers through her hair, the tips of his fingers touching her skin before smiling slightly. "Even so, I wanted you to know. I need you to know, so that I can finally move on…"

He then placed a light hand on her head before pushing it forward and lightly kissing the top with absolute emotion, his lips playing in a bittersweet smile.

"I guess I just wanted to say it once. I love you Amari."

Then be pulled away before immediately standing onto his feet as the girl's face turned completely red, her hand traveling to the place where his lips were a moment ago before stuttering. "W-Wait...where are you going…"

Although Shinso only turned his head towards the sky before smiling, a new found calm in his eyes, one that Amari had never seen before.

"I'm going to bring Izumi back."

Sighing to herself, Izumi buried herself in her book as the kids around her gossiped wildly. It had only been the first day back at school and already she wanted to get out of here more than anything.

Although that was the condition after all, remembering her grandmother's words like heavy venom in her throat. If she went back to class then that meant that the Bakugo agency would be safe, she got her word.

And the last thing she wanted was for her own terrible decisions to impact the people she cared about most. So that's why she was here, back in school, suffering through like her grandmother had always wanted.

She couldn't help but think about Shinso and how he would react when he found out that she withdrew from the agency. Maybe he'd be relieved, maybe he'd be devastated? She didn't know, and that scared her more than anything.

Flipping the page in her book, the other kids whispered to their friends before one of them stood from their seat, gazing outside the window as she gasped. "Wait, is that who I think it is..?!"

Izumi didn't pay any mind though, vaguely watching a couple kids gather by the window before lowering her head. Whatever it was, it didn't bother her.

Although that's when the door to her classroom opened, everyone gasped as the girl kept her eyes glued to her book before the steps stopped directly in front of her, his voice causing her heart to stop completely.

"I'm here for Izumi…"

At her name, Izumi felt her head raise against a will before a single white gardenia appeared in her eyes, Shinso looking down on her with a soft smile and saying the same words he uttered back when she first turned him down in front of her house.

"There you are. Did you forget again? You have agency training."

"Mistress, someone from the Bakugo Agency has shown up to see Miss. Izumi."

That was the first thing the president heard before her lips twisted into a frown, already moving towards the entrance in order to shut down whatever words those low lives were going to use in order to steal Izumi back from her side.

"Ready a car, I'm going over there myself. We have to put a stop to this right now. I also want you to get me in contact with the Bakugo's immediately."

Although the maid only seemed nervous, the president's feet touching the ground floor before the woman began to twist her brow in distaste. "What is it?"

Her words were quickly cut off though when a small chuckle entered from the corner, the president turning only to find the very person she had just demanded to see, Amari kicking her feet off the wall before smirking.

"Hello president. What a coincidence. I want to talk too."

Already feeling annoyance for the girl in front of her, she watched as Amari made herself comfortable on the sofa before her formal agent Keigo appeared next to her. "Hawks.."

The bird only smirked though, shoving his hands into his pockets and making it clear that her manipulation tactics wouldn't work on him anymore. "It's Keigo now. Thanks."

Frowning at his words, she then watched as Amari patted the spot next to her before crossing her legs in a playful manner. "Now sit down, we have much to discuss.."

It looked like she didn't have much of a choice other than to talk but the president still remained standing, giving her power in terms of the height difference.

"I thought I made it clear that Izumi wasn't going to join your agency. If you don't want to make an enemy of the commission I suggest you call off your guard dog and sidekick immediately."

By "guard dog" she obviously meant Keigo, causing Amari to chuckle, a dark demeanor in her tone. "Oh, you really don't want that because right now Keigo is the only one that's holding me back from slapping you across the face..."

And the president was certainly taken back by that, glancing to her former sidekick as he nodded his head silently, confirming why he was here. In fact, Keigo hadn't allowed her to come here without his supervision in the first place, afraid that she'd end up in jail for beating this old lady's ass.

She would have done too, if only he let her.

But Amari only sighed at the idea, pushing her hands into her pocket before pulling out the bullshit note that the president had given her earlier today before pushing it out for her to see. "Also do you mean this?"

Then she made sure the president was watching as Bakugo used her quirk to burn up the piece of paper before her eyes as the ash fell to the floor. "Because this doesn't mean shit to me. I only care about Izumi's opinion, thank you very much.."

At the utter disrespect, the commission president felt her hands ball into fists before replying sharply. "Seven years later and you still act like the same insolent child I remember you to be.…"

Cracking a smile, the girl only saw the humor in that though. "Thank you. And you're still the same coldhearted bitch I remember you to be. You still brainwashing soldiers into doing your bidding…?"

Keigo felt his feather rustle at that, looking down at the girl with silent warning. "Chickadee, you're getting off topic."

And as much as she loved tearing down this woman, now wasn't the time, Amari shaking her head in order to pull it together. "Anyways, why don't you want Izumi to be a hero anyways? Isn't it about what she wants, and not what you want?"

The president felt an undeniable rage course through her before taking a step forward to answer her question. "What I decide for my family is none of your business…"

Yet that's when Amari snapped her fingers. "See, that's where you're wrong. The minute she auditioned for my agency it became my business. So how about you answer my question?"

Knowing she wasn't going to dodge the question, the president sighed before glaring towards the girl. "My children were like you, weak and disable. No matter how much they wish it, they didn't make it in the hero world. I told them he didn't belong in that world, that they weren't good enough but they still died with their foolish dreams…"

And that was the first time Amari's smirk dropped from her face, listening to the president's story with no comeback or smart remark, hearing a bit of unsaid pain in her voice.

"You don't get to judge my choices for my family until you realize what it's like to bury your own children…"

Widening her eyes at the words, a hard ball of emotion entered her throat as Keigo felt his eyes fall, realizing that her obsession with creating heroes was just some kind of terrible coping mechanism for her children's death, to avoid weak heros from ever seeing the light, to stop other parents from burying their kids.

It was horrible and the bird could feel his hands shake as the president finished, the age on her face more visibly known then ever before. "I already know that being a hero is pointless for her. She doesn't need to be introduced to this world anymore then she already is…"

The air was silent then, Amari and Keigo taking in the heavy topic before the blonde haired girl took in a breath, now realizing why this woman hated her guts all these years.

"I'm sorry for what happened, but this isn't about what you want. It's about what she wants."

The president couldn't help but frown at that, shaking her head immediately. "That child doesn't know what she wants…"

Although that's when Amari lifted her phone up before dialing a few buttons, a small smile on her face.

"Oh? I don't know about that…"

Staring up at Shinso, Izumi's eyes fixated on the flower before turning her head in confusion as the people behind her gossiped widely. "H-Hitoshi…? W-What are..you doing here..?"

The boy only responded by sticking his hands in his pockets before pulling out a single envelope and handing it to her. "Izumi, I want to formally invite you to be a sidekick at the Bakugo Agency.."

Widening her eyes, the pink haired girl felt her mouth drop to the floor before stuttering back. "W-What...I...I..already...rejected...the..offer.."

Although Shinso only shook his head before turning his head to the side. "But was that what you wanted, or what your grandmother wanted?"

Izumi couldn't help help but gasp at that, lowering her head towards the ground. Of course it was what her grandmother wanted but the girl just had to go along with it. "D-Does it..it..matter..?"

He only chuckled in response though, Shinso's eyes radiating a sense of warmth that she had never seen before. "Of course it does. It always matters what you want."

Coughing to clear the air, the man continued a second later. "I want to apologize for making you cry before. Having someone care about me like that, I'm still not used to it. I projected my anger on you and I'm sorry…"

That's when he began to fiddle with his hands, obviously nervous for his next words.

"But ever since yesterday I couldn't sleep, I couldn't think about anything else but you, how you were feeling, if you were hurting. I realized that I don't want you to leave my side like that again, I don't want to have to let you go again…"

"S-So, you should accept the offer, join the agency. Everyone's waiting for you, Amari's waiting for you, Hawks is waiting for you, Bakugo is waiting for you, Kenji is waiting for you.."

Stopping for a moment, Shinso then felt his heart beat out of his chest before finishing gently. "I'm waiting for you…"

Then he quickly forced himself to stop before adding sleeplessly. "So what do you say?"

Already feeling the tears make their ways into her eyes, Izumi felt her hands shake before carefully grabbing the flower from his hands as she became overwhelmed with emotions.

It was like she was dreaming. Did he really care about her like that? Was it really okay to take his hand, to wish for more than what she was originally thought she could have?

Looking down at the flower, Izumi's tears spilled from the sides as she replied with her true feelings, not caring if anyone heard. "I...I….I..want to be with you, with all of you.."

Shinso felt his own eyes water at that smiling softly before reaching out his hand in order to grab it, to take control of this new life once and for all.

"Let's go home then.."

Then as she turned away to gather things, the man quickly pulled out his phone before ending the call he was in and grabbing Izumi's hand once more, leading her away and back to the agency without a second thought.

"I...I….I..want to be with you, with all of you.."

And as the president heard those words on the other side of Amari's phone, the woman could only stare in complete disbelief.

Izumi had never asked for anything in her life, not once. That girl, she was always so quiet ever since she knew her...

What happened while she wasn't looking?

As soon as the call ended, Bakugo hummed before smiling to herself and putting the object back in her pocket. Shinso was right, that girl really did want to stay with them. "Now, that doesn't sound like she doesn't know what she wants. In fact, it seems like Izumi if fully capable of making her own decisions after all…"

The truth was, it didn't matter what the president or she wanted. She wanted to hear those words straight from Izumi's mouth before fully promising to protect the girl. It was her decision after all, she had to decide to be a hero..

And now that she had, Amari wasn't going to let that girl go for anything..

Crossing her legs once again, the female Bakugo then lowered her eyes toward the older woman before adding. "Now there we have it. Izumi is officially a member of my agency, whether you like it or not. She's a part of my family and I promise to protect my family from absolutely anything and anyone…"

Smirking under her breath the girl's voice then turned cyclical, like she was challenging her in every single way. "So go ahead and wage a war on our agency if you'd like.."

This caused Keigo to widen his eyes in fear, opening his mouth to stop her before Amari silently walked up towards the president, very much afraid that she was going to slap the woman and go full "Bakugo" like she had promised previous.

Even the president herself seemed wary, narrowing her eyes as Amari stopped only a couple steps away from her. What was this childish woman doing now?

Although everyone was certainly surprised when Amari only lifted out her hand towards the commission president, a knowing expression on her face.

"Or, we can work together to keep Izumi safe, to make sure that what happened in the past will never happen ever again.."

The older woman couldn't help but widen her eyes at her words, never expecting such a thing to come out of her mouth.

Even Keigo seemed surprised, fully seeing the maturity of his little chickadee, fully grown up. Was she really suggesting a partnership with their agency? There was no way past Amari would have ever suggested such a thing before..

Twisting her lips into a frown, the president only looked towards her blonde girl's hand before scoffing. "You can't promise that. No one can ever be certain of what will happen in the future, and if you think can then you are more foolish than I thought…"

Amari didn't seem to mind that though, her face turning more serious than the woman had ever seen before.

"No, I can't promise what will happen, but I can promise that I will protect Izumi with everything I have. Her dream, her future is the most important thing to me and I wanted to help her discover her full potential."

Slightly smirking then, the girl added. "You've known me for years prez, you know my track record. If anything, you should know how stubborn I can be about protecting those important to me…."

And as much as the president hated the women in front of her, the one thing she did know was how absolutely stubborn and ridiculous she could be with those that she cherished.

The woman couldn't expect Izumi to be safe in her arms but was it possible to ever keep her safe? It didn't matter if she wanted to keep her in a glass box forever, it seemed like no one in her family ever seemed to stay there for long.

Looking down at her hand once more, the president then closed her eyes in unsaid defeat before turning around back towards her room as Amari let her hand drop.

Thinking it was hopeless, the girl then turned to Keigo with a disappointed expression before hearing the president call over her shoulder plainly.

"Even I know your stubbornness knows no bounds. A war on your agency wouldn't accomplish what I want anyways. Izumi will just have to learn your childish nature firsthand I suppose.."

Widening her eyes at that sudden approval, Amari turned around before following the old woman to the bottom of the steps, anxiety in her eyes. "Wait, does that mean...?"

Although the president only looked down towards the floor, recalling her granddaughter's words of desperation before turning towards the female Bakugo and accepting her proposal of the partnership all at once.

"It means you better keep to your word, Ember."

Reaching the front of the agency, Izumi felt her hand shake under Shinso's before the man turned towards her in concern. "What's wrong? You're not second guessing your decision, are you?"

Yet the girl only shook her head before playing with the hem of her uniform awkwardly. "W-What do I even say to them? H-How do I explain t-that letter? D-Do they even want me anymore..?"

Shinso only looked at her plainly though before throwing open the doors to the agency as he smiled. "I don't know, let's find out.."

Just then, the room exploded to life with a bunch of cheers and excitement as Amari, Hawks Katsuki and Kenji stood in the middle of the lobby with a giant cake and sign that read WELCOME TO THE BAKUGO AGENCY IZUMI in big black letters.

"She's here!"

Blinking in surprise, Izumi took in the part before tears started to make their way to her eyes as she recalled the words that Shinso had said to her the first time he talked about his life story.

She always thought these kinds of things weren't possible, to have a warm welcome or someone to come back to but now, it seemed like she had found it all her own. She didn't know how she had earned such wonderful things but she was thankful for it nonetheless.

Seeing her so happy, Amari couldn't help but beam. "Now that it's official we wanted to have a little party for you! It's good to have you…"

Then she leaned closer before whispering in her ear. "Also don't worry, Keigo and I already took care of your grandmother. She approved everything already."

And that was certainly hard to believe, Izumi turning her head in confusion and wondering how those two had gotten her grandmother, the most stubborn person in the world to agree to this kind of thing.

Although no matter how it happened, she couldn't help but be thankful, feeling a tap on her shoulder and Shinso smiled. "So, is it everything you'd thought I'd be or what?"

Feeling her cheeks heat up at his words, Izumi then turned towards the man that made everything possible before quickly closing her eyes and leaning forward before planting a light kiss onto his cheek and turning away a second later.

"T-Thank you…"

Shinso blinked in surprise at the action, watching the poor girl cover her face in embarrassment before reaching forward and grabbing her hand. "You got it wrong.."

Not understanding, the girl turned around as he finished. "You missed."

Then he pulled her hand towards him before grabbing Izumi by the waist as his lips met hers, kissing her fully as the girl immediately felt dizzy, closing her eyes a moment later and realizing that she was the luckiest girl in the world.

Sounds of cheers and applause were overheard at that, Amari looking at the couple with a small smile of pride before everyone else congratulated them before Izumi couldn't help but close her eyes in utter happiness as Shinso hummed in her ear something she thought she'd never hear...

"Welcome home Izumi."

AHHHHHHHH This took me two days to write oof. It's such a big boy. I hope I did them justice. Lots of things are happening and it's all cute! Amari's being mature, the president has a reason why she's an asshole and she got lots of cute content!

I'm going to go to sleep now cause I'm mega tired.

Next Chapter: Very last chapter of His Reasons. I think there's one thing I've forgotten..