Todoroki-Kun had given you the window seat on the bus you caught so you could watch the sunset, streetlights, and people as you passed them. It was a simple gesture, but you appreciated it.

The bus ride was mostly silent, and you felt very worn out from everything. Things were going by so fast. You had a project tomorrow. You had to take care of the kids tonight since Mom was feeling ill this morning. You also had to post your picture on Photogram and answer your super important DMs and get rid of the rest.

You sighed heavily, resting your head against the window with a thud.

You flinched hard and pulled away, forgetting about your bruise.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah," You said casually, forgetting to compose yourself for a split second. You did compose yourself, wincing though at the stinging bruise.

"Do you need any ice for it?" He asked.

"No," you said. "It needs to heal on its own. It just slipped my mind."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course," you said quietly.

He nodded slowly. You were fairly certain he didn't believe you. But he left it be.

"Have you heard anything about the announcement of the engagement?" He inquired.

"No," You said. "Not a word. I assume it will be after the Sports Festival, but my father will do as he wishes anyway...I suppose it's up to our parents now."

He huffed. "It infuriates me. We're the ones getting married. Why isn't our say heard?"

He took the words right out of your mouth. You could have started to get excited and start a whole new conversation enthusiastically. Or, you could agree politely, nodding and remaining quiet and polite like a proper young lady, like you forgot to be just before boarding the bus. A proper wife.

Even though your conversation was the most fun you'd had in a long time.

So you nodded simply. "I agree completely."

Then it fell silent again.

Throughout the ride you were soothed by the constant thrumming and occasional stopping of the bus, the constant sounds and the small sound of a toddler cooing in the back.

You almost did drift off. And you were ashamed of that, in all honesty.

You snapped awake to hear your phone ringing. Your chest tightened in apprehensiveness.

"Please excuse me," you said to Todoroki-Kun.

You looked at your phone and almost let out an audible sigh of relief.

"Hello, Mother?"

"Hanae? Honey? Are you coming home?" she asked, kind of loudly into the phone.

"Of course," you said. "I took the bus. I should be home soon, Mother."

"Okay. I'll see you when you get home, okay? I have to tell you some things."

That was odd. "Is Father home?"

"No," she said. You didn't miss the waver in her voice. "No, he left for business for a few days just an hour ago. It was an emergency," she said.

You did let out a sigh of relief at that. "Okay. How are the kids?"

"Oh, they're fine," she said. You could see her hand waving worriedly in your mind's eye and smiled. "We're waiting for you to have dinner. It's your turn to say prayers."

"Don't wait for me next time, Mother," you said, "The kids need food more than I need to say my prayers. I can say them when I get home."

"Don't say that," Mother gasped. "We will wait for you."

You blinked slowly. "They can snack a little bit before I get there. It will be another...few minutes until I get home anyway."

"No," Mother said firmly. If there was anything that mother could be adamant and firm about, it was religion. "You say prayers, then we eat."

You blinked again. "Alright. I'll try to be earlier tomorrow."

"Okay. I'll see you when you get home, okay?"

"Okay, Mother," you said kindly.

"Okay. Bye bye."

She hung up.

You set your phone down. Father was gone for a few days. You could catch up on what you needed to. The kids could play around.

You could breathe again without being stifled by his oppressive heat.

"We're here." Todoroki-Kun's voice snapped you out of your thoughts.

You grabbed your backpack and stood up as the bus came to a stop, and you were surprised (but also not) to see that you two were the only people getting off at this stop. This was near your neighborhood. One of the wealthiest neighborhoods in town. And even though you lived two code districts and several blocks away from U.A., it was still a nice living place. It was home.

The two of you walked down the street in silence, cautious since it was now dark. Even though it was a nice neighborhood with three different heroes living within two miles of one another, and many other wealthy businessmen and women, nowhere was completely safe. Just...safer.

The two of you walked quickly and quietly, and you noticed him looking around a lot. You were worried that something-or someone-was following you. If that was the case, it wouldn't be the first time, and you completely understood his paranoia.

"Is there something wrong?" you asked him under your breath.

"Not yet."

Well. Alright then.

You passed his house. Yours wouldn't show up for another fifteen minutes of walking or so.

You looked at your phone for the time. Only just past 5:45. It actually wasn't too late for dinner. Well, maybe for the little ones it was.

Either way, why was it so dark?

You kept walking in silence. But you were walking fast. Just a little bit ahead of Todoroki-Kun. He kept himself behind you, just a little bit. He was always watching.

"No one is going to do anything at this hour," you said after a bit.

"I won't risk it."

Hmph.

That's that then.

You caught sight of your house. One of the smaller ones on the block, ironically.

"This is mine," you said, pointing to the house. Only then, did he begin to slow down. A nice, comfortable pace. Like nothing was wrong. Huh.

You approached your house and saw the twins in the window, watching for you. They suddenly darted out of the window. They saw you.

You smiled to yourself.

"What are you smiling for?"

You dropped your smile and looked at him. "Uh...Nothing."

He didn't believe you.

The two of you stopped at the corner of your house.

"Thank you," you said, "For taking me home."

"No worries," he said. "We were going in the same direction anyway."

"Nonetheless. Have a-"

"Oh! Hanae! Shoto-San!"

The both of you looked over at your home. Your mother and the twins were standing at the door. Your mother was waving you up.

"Come, come! You as well, Shoto-San!"

You glanced at Shoto, and he shrugged slightly. You gestured for him to join you as you climbed the stairs to your home.

You and he walked up together. Mother was positively glowing.

"Oh, it's so good to see you again, Shoto-San," she implored. "I hope all is well with you and your family."

"You as well. Thank you, Nazumi-San."

"Oh, you don't need to be so formal," she smiled. "We are going to be family very soon."

"R...right..."

"What are you doing out so late?" she asked cheerfully. The twins were giggling behind her legs.

"I was escorting...uh...Nazumi-Chan home. I wanted to ensure her safety." He struggled trying to find out how to address you properly. There was more than one Nazumi, now.

"Oh, how sweet of you. That was very thoughtful."

"Thank you."

This was super sweet, but really awkward. "Oh, Shoto-San, you must be hungry. Come, come in, please. Eat with us!"

"Uh, I couldn't impose..."

"Nonsense, you wouldn't be imposing! Come, come."

You spotted Shina with Shigeru inside-her hair was down. It seemed like she didn't realize what was really going on. You went stiff right as she got out of sight.

"I really must be getting home," he said forcefully, but not cruelly. Mother didn't flinch, but you saw the recognition of authority in her eyes. "Perhaps another day."

"O-of course! I understand. Get home safely!"

He nodded and bowed to your mother, and took his leave. You thanked him once more as you walked inside.

Mother helped you in, taking off your backpack.

"That was very nice of him to take you home," she said gently, but cheerfully. "To take you home and make sure you were safe. Very very nice."

You nodded. "Yes, it was."

She nodded again, making an affirming sound. "He will make a good husband," she said.

You didn't respond.

She ushered you and everyone else to the dining room table, some food and toppings already there.

"Hanae-Chan!" the twins cried. "Who was that boy?! Is he your husband?!"

You rolled your eyes but smiled all the same. "Yes."

They gasped and went quiet. Their eyes went wide, thoroughly confused. They left the room, 'whispering' to each other.

"Is that really her husband?"

"Why didn't he come in?"

"Does she have a ring?"

You chuckled at them again. Oh, young ones.

Shina walked into the dining room, holding Shigeru.

The two of you made eye contact. You walked up to her.

"Was that him?" She asked under her breath. You knew what she meant.

"Yes, that was him."

You caught her turn pink. "I see." She said nothing else.

You watched her set Shigeru in his high chair. She avoided looking at you as she rushed out to help Mother with the food.

Hm...

You helped Fumiko into her chair, kissing her head.

You smiled at your brother, who was already seated at the table, silently reading a book.

Mother and Shina came in with the food just as Shigeru was starting to whine.

"We got your food, Ototo," Mother said quickly, kissing his cheek.

Everyone settled around the table and your mother said her prayers silently to herself. You all waited in silence for her to finish. As the matron of the house, it was custom for her to bless before anyone else did.

You said your own prayers to yourself.

"Alright," Mother said quietly. "Whenever you're ready."

You pressed your palms together and bowed your head, your siblings following suit.

You uttered your prayer, let your siblings echo it. You spoke in the old tongue, crossing your hands over your chest and touching your forehead with your right forefinger. Your family copied.

As was tradition, after you said your prayer, you whispered a wish into your palms. A secret, between you and the gods themselves. Another secret prayer.

"I wish for peace, devotion, and prosperity." You whispered.

The table chorused a closure.

"Alright. Let's eat."

.o0o.

Dinner was almost silent. But it was...a good silence. It wasn't awkward or forced or fearful. It was nice.

Mother set down her fork, and placed her hands in her lap. "Children."

You all turned to look at her.

"I have something to tell you..."

You tried not to show your tension. But even Shigeru seemed to turn his attention to mother.

"I...I'm feeling a bit ill lately, but everything is okay," she assured. "I have to go to the doctor's office tomorrow to figure out what is going on. I'll take the youngest kids with me, okay?"

They nodded.

"Are we going to walk to school, Mother?" Akira asked.

"I think that Lee will drive you," she said. "And he'll go to pick you up. Shina, Kenta, you are old enough to walk yourselves, right?"

"Yes, Mother." They said.

"Remember to take bus 3-"

"3-20D, Route 3, we know, Mother."

"Okay. Just making sure. Since Father isn't home, I just want to make sure things are in order here."

It went quiet. Everyone was thinking the same thing. Even if Father was here, we would be sure of most of this.

"Thank you, Mother," you said instead. She only wanted your best interest in mind. It wasn't her fault. "We will remember."

"Will you be late again, Hanae?" Mother asked.

"I can try to be faster, but I'm not positive on when we will be home next time. I can ask Todoroki-Kun if we can take the train instead of the bus, though. It should be shorter if that's the case."

"Okay. I just don't want you to get hurt or lost. If you are late, the older kids can cook for themselves."

"Yes, and don't wait for me next time, Mother." you said. "Let the children eat without me."

"It was your turn to say prayers, Hanae," Mother said firmly.

"Well, now it's Shina's. She can pray and you can eat much earlier. I'll say my prayers when I return, how's that? I don't want any of the children to go hungry."

Mother went quiet, then sighed. "Alright. That's fair."

You nodded. "I do appreciate you waiting for me."

Mother smiled widely at you. "Anytime, Hanae."

You went back to your food.

"Why do you have to go to the doctor, Mother?" Shina asked.

"Uhm..." Mother started. "I don't think I'll tell you right now. If it is what I think it is, then I'll tell you tomorrow."

You knew that you, Shina, and Kenta were all thinking the same thing. The others were too young to really consider it.

Pregnancy.

It was sitting in the back of your mind all week. She's been pregnant ten times during your lifetime at least. You knew what it was like and what it the symptoms were like. But the younger four didn't know almost anything at all about it. And why should they? They were only small.

And even though you suspected it, you let it be. All of you older kids did.

You knew Mother had certain reservations about pregnancy, too. First with your father and who he was, then with the toll it took on her body.

Then, a few of them...a few of her babies, her children, passed away. Each event was tragic for the whole family (except maybe Father, but he was strange anyway) but it especially hurt Mother. She loved her children-all of them-and she could hardly bear to lose one. Perhaps that's why she was so adamant to keep religion in place, to make sure the children knew what bus to take, to insist that Lee-your butler-took the little ones to school and picked them up in the morning.

You swallowed the lump in your throat at the realization.

You finished dinner in silence. Shina decided to help Mother in cleaning the kitchen and making sure things were tidy. In exchange, you would get the children up to bed and change Shigeru's diaper.

So that's what you did. Bringing your backpack, sketchbook, and laptop upstairs to the twin's and Shigeru's shared room with you, you helped the twins get cleaned up and ready for bed, and cleaned Shigeru, putting him in his crib.

"Will you stay with us, Hanae?" Akira asked as you tucked them in.

You were about to ask about the odd request. They almost never asked for you to stay in their room with them.

"We don't want Father to come back and hurt us," they said.

You had to keep yourself together, keep your quirk from burning your clothes. You forgot to take your suppressants in the flash of suckiness you called this morning.

You breathed in and out. "Yeah," you said after a moment. "I just have to tuck in Fumiko, okay? Then I'll be right back."

"Okay."

Fumiko and you shared a floor. The very top one. She was self sufficient enough that she was able to get into bed by herself now, which was good. You discovered she was fast asleep.

Returning to the kid's room, you sat at the dresser in there for their homework, pulling out your sketchbook and beginning some starter sketches for the project. It wasn't really all too late. You gave yourself until 10:00 to get to bed. Tomorrow, you tasked yourself in finishing your commissions, or at least being on the way of doing so.

And that night, you protected the twins and Shigeru from the monsters.

The ones that wouldn't dare show their face.

.o0o.