We have a new chapter! We have a new chapter! We have a new chapterOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
And you can start dancing now!
Hello my dear and beautiful readers! I don't know about you, but March took forever for me. But we're finally at the first of the month and that means being able to enjoy a new chapter of this beautiful story! (modesty sold separately)
Now I'll leave you in peace so you can read to your heart's content:
I'll see you in the endnotes!
Chapter 4:
"Shopping with Hatsume-Ghost?"
By dinner time Togata had not yet returned. And although I could easily find out that this was not the first time this had happened, it was also obvious that this did not make the owner of the house any less angry. That same night as he lay awake reading Izuku he could hear all the commotion when the blond man finally appeared in the house. But thanks to his hearing aids he didn't have to listen to all the commotion and could continue reading in peace. He didn't know how many times they would have argued like that before, nor was he interested in whether they continued to do so.
That was his rule: No interest. Don't get involved. If you don't, you don't have to come back. Keep moving, don't get stuck. That's it.
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The next day, at the dojo, Todoroki had separated them in pairs to practice strangulation. A series of perfectly legal judo techniques and not simple Simpsons style violence. Izuku played him with Kaminari, who listened to the master's instructions:
-No, you place both elbows on the opponent's shoulders... As the blond man explained, he moved... Then you place a hand on your forearm and raise the arm you are holding.
-It would be easier if he just wrapped his hands around my neck," suggested Izuku, who did not feel the effects of the key.
-Man, this is hard. I complain about Kaminari sitting on his back. It was his turn to serve as a practice dummy. And he was about to stretch a little further if not for the sudden pressure on his throat, so he could only hold on to the arms of the green eye and begin to shake:
-Jooh, Midoriya already got the hang of it- Kirishima comment seeing them a few meters away.
-Die and practice- At times like this Kirishima was grateful to have the option of silencing Bakugo. Although she would never admit it to you. Doing so would cost him a blowout in the face.
During the next two hours the training continues as intense as usual. Kaminari managed to understand how to perform most of the keys, although on one occasion his partner got a small electric shock when the blond man sneezed and did not manage to release it in time. That's why Kaminari was always the first one to use the showers.
-It's a danger-Izuku said as I walked along with Kirishima to the exit after training.
-Calm down, man, it doesn't always happen." He defended the redheaded man to his companion.
-I have to accompany Hatsume to do the shopping." She answered with her hands in her pockets.
-Why," Kirishima asked with raised eyebrows, but the only answer she received was a shrug. So he decided to change the direction of the talk - Hatsume, eh? Once Todoroki brought her to the dojo. It was amazing.
-He asked Izuku with genuine curiosity. But the redheaded man drowned out a laugh before responding:
-Not at all-Dijo-But I install a lot of things in the third floor rooms: a disco ball, LED lights, laser, even a fog machine.
-Seriously?
-Yep-This time it was Kaminari's turn to respond, who had been walking behind them and was now holding both of them by their shoulders-and then a new ventilation system.
-I don't want to know - although it didn't take a genius to guess - well, here I am crossing..." He answered when they reached the corner where the supermarket was located.
-Until tomorrow, I wake up at the same time as the other two.
-Tsk-Bakugo, who had been walking in the background from the beginning just pissed off. Izuku could not help but sigh with a slightly overdone gesture with his shoulders.
-Well, life goes on, but I didn't have time or desire to think about it. He memorized the way to the supermarket, according to the map he had consulted earlier and the directions Todoroki had given him. When he arrived he was surprised that the hairy girl was waiting for him at the entrance; he had hoped that she would forget and go straight to the house or that she would stay late on that course. Although he seemed quite impatient and with that huge backpack on his back he was attracting a lot of attention-Hello.
-You're late! -Hatsume's spitball.
-I'm sorry, some colleagues delayed me - I excuse the green eye without lying - shall we go?
As soon as she entered, Izuku began to understand why the hairy girl couldn't go shopping alone: she was arguing for fifteen minutes with the security guard who told her that she should leave her backpack at the entrance. Later, it was like shopping with a little girl. A very whiny little girl:
-Rapidooooo...-He would go behind Izuku urging him to hurry.
-There's a list, why don't you go get the paper towels," Izuku suggested as she decided which brand of milk to take.
-No paper towels are needed, the clothes are more than enough. I could be in my workshop working on my babies...-As Izuku walked away I heard her complaints getting louder and louder.
-God, I'm sure the first time he came home with a lot of rice and salt -he ate for himself with a hint of humor. Now Todoroki's expression made sense when he asked her why she didn't send Hatsume out alone to do the shopping.
Checking the list was not too much, he could well carry everything by himself. He didn't want to spend too much time with Hatsume's complaints anyway, so he chose to hurry up with everything: milk, eggs, white rice, some grains, flour and cereal, from his expensive favorite brand. I'm sure Todoroki wouldn't notice the difference of a couple of yens less. Hatsume, on the other hand, spent most of her time in the tools section:
-When they finally had everything, they went to pay, where a bitter-faced saleswoman attended them:
-Which one is more ecological? Izuku just wanted to make her more angry.
On their way back to the house they both walked in silence. Each one carried a bag, made of paper, Izuku carried his free hand in his pocket while enjoying the pleasant summer breeze; unlike many teenagers he enjoyed the silence very much and did not mind having to walk next to someone else without speaking. In fact, it was refreshing that Hatsume was so airtight and did not force him into a conversation. The whole way was perfectly calm, until Izuku realized that he was walking alone:
-Hm? -Luckily Hatsume had only been left behind for looking at the window of a hardware store.
-I'm missing that screw -that's what she said as soon as Izuku came back to her:
-Just that one," the green eye thought with a smile, "what's so special about it?
-It is one of three quarters. I need that exact measurement for the baby I'm working on, plus it's iron, with a perfect tip and chrome cover end; good thermal resistance, standard conductivity, come on.
-God, I understood that it was important -how it was possible that someone who barely said enough words to put together a prayer in a day could say so many in a row, coherently and seemingly without pausing for breath.
-And without saying anything else, the girl entered the store, followed by a surprised but mildly curious green eye. Izuku just stood by the door and I watched as the hairy one carefully chose the metal pieces she needed.
There was also a moment when he began to question the owner about pieces that, giving the reason for a bad joke, sounded like a spaceship. But he had to admit that seeing someone with such enthusiasm for something was quite entertaining. All of Hatsume's energy was contagious and then when they left the store, with an extra box of pieces, she was discovered smiling from halfway across:
-What are you building? -I even felt like talking.
-She asked with a wide smile, "Are you talking about my babies?
-Then it's more than one...-Izuku-Screws, what are they for?
-Baby number 56, is a special project I started a long time ago. The screws are for the main circuit board of a...-And there it was again. That technological verbiage that Izuku barely understood half of and learned the rest as I went along. The rest of the way Hatsume talked and talked about project number 56 whose essential nature was still shrouded in mystery by the time they reached the front door. Hatsume was more focused on the technical details, and it was impressive that someone her age had that level of knowledge in engineering and electronics:
-... as soon as I finish it, I'll install it immediately in the living room," said the girl as they walked to the kitchen.
-I doubt that Todoroki will allow it-I honestly say the green eye leaving the bag on the kitchen table:
-Whatever it is, you're right: No-To the surprise of both of them, Endeavor's face appeared from behind the newspaper that, because they were chatting, neither of them saw, extended to the other end of the table.
-Is it because of the car?
-It's all because of the auto-It was the ginger's short answer in turning attention back to his newspaper:
-I ask Izuku, taking the shopping out of the bags. From the expression in Todoroki's blue eyes, this was a subject that mortified him. That is, a mine to exploit:
-Arrange the food-although it might take a little dynamite to do that.
-Midoriya!
-In an instant Hatsume was inches from her face with her eyes wide open. And finally Izuku could understand that that strange sign on the garage door was actually marked with Hatsume's eyes. With that peculiar cross pattern:
-Come with me next time to buy more pieces, and to the boner-
-No more boning," they heard from the other side of the newspaper.
-Tsk-La pelirosa just joke before taking a sixpack of soda before leaving the kitchen towards the garage.
-I guess he dragged you to the hardware store in the middle of the road.
-He wanted to buy some screws.
-Jmm...-And once again, after almost a conversation they returned to the snorts.
-We were able to buy everything, thank you for asking - I'm talking about Izuku putting things in the pantry - can I ask you something, and I would appreciate an answer in prosaic words. Preferably in Spanish.
-What? -A monosyllable. But at least it was something.
-Why did she send me with her?
-Last time it was just a return with only pieces and a stone of salt-I say that human beings can survive as long as they have salt and water.
-I heard something about that when I sent it out for napkins - I say Izuku keeping the milk in the fridge - but I meant, why do you send it out for shopping? Especially after the salt stone.
-He has to learn to do common tasks. And he can't live on salt wrath by turning his attention to his newspaper.
As soon as Izuku finished setting up everything, she poured herself a glass of juice and took a seat at the kitchen bar. He knew that he was taking a big risk if he was questioned, but he also needed to get some information out. But contrary to his plans, Todoroki did not give in to the pressure of his gaze and remained silent from page one to the sports section. By the end Izuku gave up and left the kitchen for his room:
-And this? -Only he didn't remember leaving that box on his desk. When she looked at it closely she could tell it was a cell phone and a note, with calligraphy too stylish to think it belonged to its custodian-"The boss said you need one of these so I can reach you when you leave. So I bought it for you this morning. PS: the first month is already paid for - Att. Ryukyu"-he read in your discharge. As he held his new phone in his other hand.
I had never had a cell phone of my own. After all, I had never needed one; the closest I ever got was when I was scamming pawn shop owners by selling them new boxes with nothing but rocks in them. But this one was real. His. And by the way, one of those modern ones that didn't even have more than five buttons.
What was he doing now?
Thank Todoroki for sending you to buy a phone? I could do that at dinner.
-Ok...-He said to himself taking the little manual from the box and lying in bed with his new phone. The first thing would be to learn how to operate that device.
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-Brother is great, look at all that internal memory.
-You have to download Spootify, Itunes is dead- Kaminari's comment while looking at the screen. Well no doubt his dojo buddies appreciated the cell phone technology better.
-I guess you're talking about music-Izuku comment by taking a bite out of his palette. That afternoon after training they had gone for a walk in a nearby park and bought some ice cream to fight the heat.
-Geer asked Kirishima, lying on the trunk of the tree under which they had sat and still with his paddle in his mouth. Kaminari also found him strange as he returned the phone to Izuku:
-Midoriya you are too serious- I express the blond with a surrender expression on my face- I only have games in mine. Do you know Candy Crush?
The three continued to talk about musical applications and tastes for a while longer until Kaminari said goodbye and said that he had to clean up his room; which left Izuku free for a more serious talk:
-He asked for a sharp look at the redhead. Who was just chewing on his ice cream stick and whose expression quickly became guilty and confused-it always seems like you want to say something but it scares you-I add in a very confident response.
-Ah, yes well, it's something personal...-And body language confirmed it. I avoided his eyes and he scratched the back of his neck while smiling guiltily-I don't know how to say it.
-Do you want to know what it's like to be under the tutelage of Endeavor? Rightly so, judging by the comical expression on Kirishima's face.
-Well, not exactly," admitted the ginger. "I mean, it must be great to be able to live with someone like him.
-He interrupted Izuku by lying on the grass with both hands behind his head. He is not much different from the way he is in the dojo: uncommunicative, his personal manner is rough, inflexible and I am never sure why he does things. The phone for example-I add a frown.
-Well, it's important to be communicated and maybe he thought you'd want one.
-No. He's not the kind of guy who would be watching my movements on the GPS; and we're not a family to be sending each other messages either. It's maddening not to know-
-Kirishima suggested with a drop of sweat on her temple. But that's when Izuku could rightly guess what the redhead really wanted to ask.
I had heard a thousand different ways of asking the same question. Some more abrupt and direct, others too premeditated not to sound cruel but, most of them, loaded with immoderate descent to ignore it. Usually they came from his classmates, or from the few interested teachers he came to know. And just like with everything you are forced to deal with too many times, like eating something you don't like or the injections, I had long since started to give it a miss.
-How does it feel to be an orphan, huh? That's why he opened his right eye, just to see Kirishima's embarrassed expression. That now her ears were the same color as her hair as she looked away in sorrow.
-I'm sorry I didn't mean to be rude. I apologize for squeezing your hand.
-Cut the ryo with that "man" thing. Izuku shortcut by hitting him on the shoulder with your foot. Orphanhood is not a venereal disease.
-I suppose they ask you a lot of questions," said Kirishima, rubbing her arm, "You don't have to answer me.
-What makes you think I was going to do that," the green man asked, closing his eyes again.
But all of Kirishima's guilt vanished when she noticed Midoriya's devious expression as the wind blew her hair. He didn't seem upset or anything. He was just a direct guy and that's why he liked her.
-Hey Midoriya...-Izuku just raised his eyebrows, as a sign that he was listening to him- Do you keep my number?
-Jmm-The hairy guy snorted a little bit as he considered the pros and cons of that-Yes, I don't see why not. Take advantage and save mine, I still don't learn it.
It wouldn't be bad to have the contact of one of your colleagues. He had already checked the phone and Ryukyu had kept his contact number and Todoroki's, plus a few others like the house, the office and even the dojo. If he counted Kirishima now he would have six. Surely Togata would have one too, although he would be better off. Hatsume. Well, he was too asocial and even if he had one he would probably have already disarmed it into something else.
In any case, it was nice to hang out with the redhead, who even explained several things he didn't quite understand with his new phone. He was already on his way back to the house without thinking about anything in particular, maybe about what he would like to eat for dinner or about taking a long bath in cold water to fight the summer heat, when crossing a corner he could see a group of guys who immediately gave him a bad feeling: leather jackets, punk hairstyles, sunglasses:
-"When did our culture turn into a huge American cliché? " -Well, it's not like he was the embodiment of the Japanese patriotic spirit. In fact, personally, he enjoyed reading about international news. But there were people, the escaped punk subjects of the eighties in front of him, who abused such themes-excuse me...-I just walk past them walking around as if nothing had happened. After all, such subjects did not scare him at all.
-Hey, hey, snotty.
-Leave him, he's coming with me.
-Hm? -His intention to go on and ignore them was cancelled when an acquaintance interrupted the other guy who had taken him by the shoulder. He turned around to see Togata standing in the middle of all the punks; he had his arms crossed and a scowl on his dark glasses. If I didn't know him, Izuku would have thought he was a real risk.
-Droy, I said let go of it-but I was beginning to consider it. His tone was not. His very presence was intimidating enough for this Droy to tremble and obey. And five other guys who were there also seemed pretty scared. Togata put his hands in his pockets and started walking, while signaling Izuku to follow him.
-"Ghost...? " They walked several blocks in silence and the green hair walked behind the major which allowed him to see the embroidery on the black leather which said the word "Ghost" in English -That's the name of your gang? Ghost?
-Togata walked hunched over and with his hands in his pockets.
-Will you ignore me the rest of the way..." Izuku asked, hastening a couple of strides to walk by his side and look at his face. "Will you not even try to convince me not to say anything to Todoroki?
-What are you going to tell him? That I rescued you from getting the beating of your life?" he suggested sneering as he took off his glasses and winked at her-or that you were walking on the wrong side of town? No sir, you're not going to say anything.
-The point has been established where we are at the bottom of Todoroki's trust..." Izuku answered, walking beside him. "Will you at least tell me what you are doing on the bad side of town?
-I asked first." The blond man replied:
-I don't know the city very well yet, but I always take a different route back to the house," Izuku answered, looking straight ahead:
"-He's more impatient than he looks," Mirio thought with a drop of sweat on his temple. But...-I add, when I saw that Izuku was going to say something-If you ever see guys with this mark again, you better avoid them-I explain by pointing to the embroidery on the left side at heart level on their jacket: it was the design of some animal in cubism or pop art, a lizard maybe, in black and red-I'm serious, Midoriya. Not everyone is a moron like Droy and his group.
-Why so much insistence? I question the green eye with a skeptical eyebrow.
-It's not like I care. -I'll clear the blond by putting his sunglasses back on... but if you're going to get in trouble, make sure Todoroki doesn't make a connection with me.
-Okeyyy...-She answered in you singing and a friendly smile. It wasn't as if he cared about watching Togata's back, but that information might well be useful at some point.
To be continued...
Uhhh! With that ending, even I got anxious...
UHUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Alright my loves, unfortunately that's all for today. I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I did writing it. Anyway you have no idea of everything that is coming our way in this story so I recommend you to get ready, maybe a seatbelt or a helmet. Ok ok, also an axe or a shotgun because, I'll be honest, you're going to hate me.
On the other hand, I can't wait to read what you thought of this chapter, don't forget that reviews are a vital part of a good feed.
See you in May with a new chapter!