Rei set a plate on the table. Shouto wasn't hungry. His mother wasn't having it. The fact she condoned the twenty-something to consume liquid bread and nicotine as a substitute for eating wasn't good enough today.
"You have to eat something, Sho." Rei sat across from him. It was a grilled cheese sandwich and french fries. His wandering eyes pondered the American dish. Seeing the melted cheese and grease from the butter settling on the wax paper curbed his appetite. It wasn't like he had been eating. Cigarettes and beer have been the norm for him. If only his mother would pay attention often. Yet again, it wasn't her fault.
They were at the Lucky Cat Cafe - Rei's place of work. It was a double shift again. Rei needed the money and as usual, the manager appreciated the help. It hasn't been easy for his mother since the divorce. Paying back court costs, settlement fees, and leaving a once quaint lifestyle. If one wanted to call quaint a walking on eggshells to sate a man who didn't know what the word meant in the modern lexicon. Shouto knew she didn't want to admit that his father was a hard ass, to her and to them. Amazing after several years of marriage, she wouldn't say one negative thing about the man. Maybe his mother was a fool. Maybe she was seeing things through the rose-colored glass.
God, did Shouto envy her.
He pushed the plate aside. "Can't Mom, sorry." Shouto didn't look at her disapproving eyes. Greasy buttered bread and peanut oil-saturated fries was the least of his worries. There were other pressing matters at hand that took precedence over an appetite.
The white-haired mother sighed heavily as she placed her hand over her nose. She was trying her best not to respond negatively. She was grateful that business has been slow due to the rainy season. The television was playing in the foreground. The Golden Swallows were playing the Tigers in the national championship. Fifth ending, bases were loaded for the Golden Swallows. This was their second attempt to beat the reigning Tigers to win the championship. Izuku had tickets to go to the game. It was quite the misfortune that he would have to miss it.
Shouto flicked the ash in the empty coffee cup before he wanted to ask his mother the big question - what to do with Izuku.
She took hold of the grilled cheese and took tiny bits. She wasn't really hungry. How could she eat if her son was upstairs wailing and saturating his pillow with tears. It has been about a day since they sent him back home. The doctor informed them to keep stress at a low-level. Medication was given, a police investigation was being conducted, and forensics did an inspection on him by using a rape kit. It still irked the mother that she was hearing those words. Izuku was raped. Her son was raped. Rape, as in someone did unspeakable things to him against his will.
She looked at her watch. It wasn't long before she would do her periodical checks to see if he was okay. And since it was the lunch hour, she could give him Shouto's plate so it wouldn't go to waste.
"So." Rei looked at Shouto. The cigarette was no longer in his hand. His hands were intertwined together. A habit he picked up whenever thoughts were swimming in his mind. She didn't like it whenever he did that. She thought of it as a poor habit. His back was slouched and hunched over. It was poor posture. She never really called him on it as Shouto was an adult and responsible on how he should take care of himself. "What are we going to do about Icchan?"
"I have been contacted about consulting a therapist," she responded. "We are supposed to meet next week. School won't be a concern as he will be doing correspondence for the time being. I have been in contact with his instructors and thankfully, everything will be out of anonymity." Her eyes lingered over the television. The Tigers were a point ahead of the Golden Swallows. "I took his phone away from him and everything that gave him access to the outside world. He does have his video games and his comic books. I was sure to keep his robotic kit in case he wanted to tinker with it."
"Nothing sharp, right?"
"Shouto!"
"I am not saying he won't," he retorted. "But in his present state of mind, who knows what he is going through." Wasn't sure to quell his emotions or he was actually starving, he reached over and grabbed a handful of fries. "A cornered animal can become dangerous."
"I wouldn't think like that, Sho."
He nodded as he munched on the greasy, fried potatoes. "I know! Icchan wouldn't do anything that would hurt us. He isn't built like that. He is too considerate and caring to take his own life." He clicked his tongue. "However, we don't know what that person has done."
Rei's eyes still looked occasionally at the television. Yusuke Oyugi, the Japanese-Kenyan newcomer and starting pitcher for the Tiger made a strike out with fellow batter Don Dominguez from the Domincian Republic. Oyugi was Izuku's favorite pitcher for the Tigers. "We should get something in a few days from forensics. DNA, something to show the culprit or the culprits."
"Culprits?!"
"When speaking with Fukukado the other day," replied Rei, "she said that the possibility of more than one culprit was possible." She placed her elbows on the table as she used her hand to rest her chin. "Ambushes reportedly have increased in this prefecture. Women and children are the norm, but there is a tiny minority of men being ambushed and taken captive."
"You think Icchan fits in that category?"
"I don't think that. However, in this day and age, anything is possible."
Shouto wished his mother could be wrong. However, the possibility was high. His brother was raped. Although he used female pronouns, there wasn't absolute certainty if that person was a female. Regardless of the gender, that person wasn't human. He would like to call that bastard or bitch an animal, but that, too, would be an insult to the animal kingdom.
Mr. Midoriya suffered some severe bruising on his stomach and back. He has fractured one of his ribs. He had minor lacerations around his face and neck.
Also, there was some tear from his splinter muscles. Overall, his injuries are serious, but not fatal.
As far as he knew, Izuku hasn't even kissed a girl. He was shy to a tee. The thoughts of a girl liking him was intimidating. Izuku was the type to even inform his mother if he had a wet dream. Actually, there were a handful of occasions where he would tell Shouto about a girl that fancied him or caught his attention. Being the older brother, he was prone to tease. Comments about finding crusty boxers or crumpled piece of tissue in the trash can made the younger brother tickled pink, beet red as a cherry tomato. Izuku did not have any pornography hidden everywhere. His web browser on his laptop was clean. Even glimpses of a woman showing some kind of skin, especially a gravure idol, he would shake like a leaf. Shouto would have to credit that to his mother. The notion of waiting until marriage and celibacy was idyllic to their mother.
"Has Dad spoken on the matter?" It was astonishing to Shouto that he would include his father in the matter. He wasn't Father of the Year in Izuku's upbringing. Tough love was the motive, for him and Izuku. Izuku had more dates with the leather belt than his missed robotics competitions, honor roll assemblies, anything a parent was supposed to be there and celebrate with their child.
"Not much," she answered. "We haven't spoken since Icchan was released. He just wanted to know how much were the damages."
"More of how much he would have to spend out of pocket. Just another thing to remind Izuku constantly." He crossed his arms. "Wants accountability, but never where it counts."
"You know your father."
"Sometimes, I don't! I may know of him. But do I know him?"
You insolent bastard! You did this! You did this!
This is your damned fault, Shouto. You made him weak like a woman. Rape? RAPE!?
Your fault! Your damned fault that my son was raped. Your damn fault he turned into a pussy.
Shouto hasn't been home since that fateful evening. It wasn't uncommon to stay over at Momo's apartment. She lived alone, had no relatives to speak of or any to claim her. It was quite spacious. Momo liked the idea of him moving in permanently. However, he had a creed to live by - refusing to stay at a house unless they were married.
"I am sorry about what your father has done." It was sincere and from the heart. Rei was disheartened and hurt to see how Enji belittled and demeaned his own children. Granted Izuku was on the sensitive side. He was gentle-natured, a floating, loving dragonfly. Whereas Shouto could handle himself better with Enji as his skin was tougher. Nevertheless, she should have done a better job defending her son.
Shouto lightly dabbed the bruise on his neck. A parting gift from his father at the hospital. "BDBD, Mom." He took another bite of french fries. "BDBD." BDBD was something Izuku would say in secret. Before their dad became a drunk.
Rei checked her watch. There was twenty more minutes before her break was done. The dinner rush was approaching and she needed time to be sure that the chicken was seasoned perfectly and oregano was chopped to add to the spaghetti for tonight's special. "The waiting game is upon us." Pins and needles were an understatement to determine what results they were going to get. Izuku was talking, at least willingly. When speaking with the detective shortly after leaving the hospital, she told Shouto and her mother that they were investigating security footage and trying to find eyewitnesses that led to the assault.
During the process when doctors were conducting the rape kit on Izuku. Although he permitted it, he had to be medicated to calm him down. Wails filled the room as they worked on gathering whatever DNA they could from the culprit. Shouto was there. He grabbed Momo's hand, watching from afar with tears blinding his vision.
Icchan was calling for Sho Sho - a nickname he used whenever he was in danger.
"Things like this take time." The worry bumps were showing on her skin. He hated her wrinkles as it showed deep worry. He pursed his lip as he contemplated on another cigarette. Did he really have time for one? His morning Thermodynamics class cancelled and there was a General Psychology final this afternoon. He knew Momo was going to swing by and pick him up. Later, he was supposed to head over to his guitarist's house for band practice. A gig was picked up this weekend and needed time to perform. Too many things were consuming his brain, feeling as though he was being stretched in eight million different directions at once.
"Hey, Aunt Cass," he asked the brunette fair-skinned woman behind the counter. "A coffee to go, please?!"
The fair-skinned woman nodded in confirmation. She pulled the pencil behind her ear to keep count of today's orders. Shouto turned back to his mother as she continued chewing on what was supposed to be Izuku's lunch. He pulled into his wallet and placed a few dollars on the table.
Rei pushed it aside. "You know Aunt Cass takes care of things. No worries."
Shouto nodded in disapproval. "Go and see a movie tonight." He returned his wallet into his pocket. "I plan to come back tonight and stay with Icchan."
He knew it would be a tight bunk. His mother was in-between homes and her boss was allowing her to stay in the upstairs studio apartment rent free. Rei wasn't a charity case - $150/week and would drive to the farmer's market to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. Another quality that Shouto found envious about his mother. A forgiving, gentle spirit. Something he felt he wasn't as there were components of his father in him.
"I still need to go to the pharmacy and pick up his medication," she told her son. "I am also expecting a call from Detective Fukukado and she might need Icchan to…" Shouto interrupted her as he placed his hand over hers. She watched the seriousness on her son's face. A young man he was becoming. Firmer chin, rugged look on his cheeks. He was looking more and more like the man she used to love.
"Text me the details on what I need to do," he said to her. "For me, please. Go and get some air." He looked at the restaurant. Not many patrons at this time. An elderly couple drinking their coffee and playing go. A university student was chewing on his pencil as he was working on an assignment. A new mother pacifying her child with a binky and cooing him through son. "You got so much going on. Working double shifts, taking care of Icchan, attending those meetings." He paused momentarily. He had to glance over in case of prying eyes.
Rei finally returned her son's grip of the hand. "A month away from my two year chip." She nodded affirmatively. "One day at a time. You can thank your Aunt Cass as she is now my new sponsor."
The young adult turned as the owner/cashier raised her three year chip. "One day at a time, Rei."
Rei raised her water-filled glass. She then looked at her son. "Thank you. Thank you, Sho."
"You need a break. I can sleep in bed with him."
"He would love that. Brings back old times."
The smell of macadamia nut coffee was his cue that it was his time of departure. He stood up and pushed the chair behind him. "I will swing by Momo's and grab some things. Maybe some pizza and ice cream for old time's sake. I think Momo wouldn't mind bringing one of his favorite board games."
"Try for me, baby," she told her son.
Shouto nodded as he reached over and kissed his mother on the cheek. "Remember to text me the details. See you later." He turned to the cashier. "Bye, Aunt Cass!"
"Bye, dear," replied the fair-skinned cashier.
He grabbed his jacket at the coat rack and put it on. Reaching into its pocket to retrieve his headphones, he was going to drown himself into the demo his band was making. He wanted to be sure that there weren't errors in sounds, pitch, notes, nothing that could deter them from a possible record deal. Performing was more than the notion of becoming famous. To Shouto, it gave him the freedom to become a persona that wasn't his own. The identity of being whatever he wanted to be. And it was something needed as his stomach swelled and his heart clenched.
He bit tightly into his lip as he returned to the outside world. A world where anything of detritus blossomed.
Somewhere in that world, Izuku's culprit remains free. Free to consume and to partake of the Earth.
Which apple would he or she discard next?
He gave one final look at his mother and then the television.
The Golden Swallows pulled a no-hitter, giving them an advantage by two points.
Later….
Shouto cancelled band practice, citing personal reasons. His professor was going to allow Shouto to retake his Psychology exam as his inattentiveness and detachment of concentration hindered him to finish.
He asked Momo to stop by the corner store on the way back to her apartment. He wanted another pack of cigarettes and some ibuprofen for his throbbing headache. She sped past the yellow light to make the turn to the corner store. She parked the car, turning off the ignition. A pregnant silence followed. The overhead lights of the store filled the quiet vehicle.
He looked dead ahead at the street. The streets were empty, but his mind was filled with a heavy traffic, clogging his mind, still unriveting the events about his brother that occurred a couple days prior. He rested his head on the window, trying his best to hold the emotion of his brother. Momo wanted to do something. A word, a sound, a touch, something to give her boyfriend a feeling that he wasn't alone. She didn't. She stepped out of the car to retrieve his items.
The seeping fumes from the gas pump opened her nostrils, giving her chills in the pit of her stomach. She opened the door, alerting the cashier that he had another visitor. She walked to the back to give herself a bottle of water. She even got snacks for the pair if they were to get hungry. She knew they were getting pizza and ice cream tonight when she was heading to Izuku's. However, a bit of food didn't hurt to numb feelings. She scanned through the aisle towards the counter.
"Evening," she told the cashier. "Marlboro, unfiltered if you have it."
The cashier, standing in the center as if there was a delayed response. He flinched, turning to retrieve the item of her choice. He returned the item as well as scanning the items of her purchase. She fixed her lips as if she wanted to say something. Instead, she got her items and silently thanked the cashier before stepping out.
She returned the putrid scent of the gas fumes hovering over her nose. She hated the scent. She felt dirty. It didn't make her feel good. It brought too many memories of her past. Memories she never wanted to relive. It was during the days of her early childhood and her move to Musutafu before meeting Shouto.
As she ventured towards the car, she saw her boyfriend sitting outside. He was silent, standing still, staring at the same scenery from earlier.
He flinched when feeling his girlfriend's soft touch on his shoulder. He returned her affections, rubbing her hand. He kissed it, but the silence remained present. Words didn't need to express their bonding.
"Long day," he spoke to her for the first time. "Sorry for my silence."
"You're okay, Sho!"
"Thanks!" He gasped loudly. "It takes me back to the times where I should have been there to protect him." He extended his finger, pointing at the corner across the street. "This was the corner Icchan and I took the bus to school. We didn't live that far from the stop." He pointed at another direction to an old, derelict building. "That building is where my love for music began." He thankfully got his cigarettes and ingested the smoke before returning it to the night sky. "Heaven and hell were in that very corner."
"Explain," said Momo, swaying her hair. She took a cigarette. However, she paused. "Let's take a walk to that corner. Also, I don't want us to be blown up into flames."
"Smart move," he replied with a slight chuckle.
The first time in a while he felt some kind of emotion.
As Shouto and Momo were approaching the interception, he received a phone call. He saw that it was from Denki, one of Izuku's friends/classmates.
"Hmm," he said aloud. "I wonder why Kaminari would call me at this hour." He answered it on the fourth ring. "Yo! What's going on, Denki?"
"Hey, Shouto," replied Denki. "Umm...umm…" Shouto could hear weariness in his voice. Whenever the blond would stammer, something was awry.
In other words, something was troubling him.
"What's wrong, Denki," asked Shouto concerningly.
"Umm, are you anywhere near a computer or anything?"
"No! Why?"
"Is Deku by any chance alright?"
Shouto's stomach dropped. He gripped the phone tightly.
"Are you there, Shouto?"
"I am. What's wrong, Denki?"
He could hear the strain in his voice. "There is a video that was sent through Messenger and well, I...I…."
"Spit it out, Denki!"
"The video is graphic and is showing Deku being….ravished."
Momo could see the tightening of Shouto's face. "Sho?!"
"Where are you, Denki," asked Shouto. This time, with an aggressive tone.
"At home."
"Be there. We're on the way." He hung up. He turned to Momo. "Phone my sister and have her watch Icchan until we get back."
He was becoming frantic. He looked skyward as he cursed to the heavens. Momo was becoming worried. "Sho?!"
"Let's go, Moes," he said to her. "We're going to Denki's. Now!"
He took the keys from Momo and walked toward the vehicle. Momo gripped her chest as she followed behind her boyfriend. The unsettling feeling was rising in her gut. Ever since that day at the hospital, she had a sense of discernment. A sense that the incident between Izuku and the culprit was only the beginning.
To be continued….