33
My maid's realization.
Izuku and Momo were on their knees, bowing in shame as they apologized to his mom. All the while, Inko was a hysterical mess that didn't know how to act. On the one hand, her son had an amazing girlfriend that belonged to a high-status family. On the other hand, why was his girlfriend dressed as Neko-maid that seemed ready to pounce him?!
"I came back to my household excited to see my baby so when did he become a man?!" And just like her son, Inko Midoriya began to ramble on about not wanting her son to grow up so fast and her conflicting feelings about such a prestigious girl dating her son and whatever strange cosplay fetish they were into.
"M-Mom, it's nothing like that! She's just my girlfriend wh-who also happens to be my neko-maid." Izuku started off by trying to calm his mom down but then he felt himself cringe as he realized his explanation actually made things worse. Although Izuku did grow a sweatdrop at what his mom had said, 'So what, she didn't consider me a man when I was off fighting during those times of crisis? It's having a girlfriend that changes how my mother views me?'
"Please accept this apology Ms. Midoriya! I was hoping we would meet again under different circumstances! Your son has been nothing but respectful despite how obscene we were presenting ourselves! Again I must apologize!-"
So here the three of them were, incoherently rambling to each other like a family.
Eventually, they were able to sort things out. Momo had even created a new tea set which was already being used as the three of them needed tea to calm down. Inko Midoriya had even given Momo some clothes so she could change out of her maid outfit, and in doing so, she also undid her spiral ponytail, letting her hair down.
After having everything explained to her, and taking a thoughtful sip, Inko Midoriya pouted with a scowl. "When I asked Shino to look after you, this was not what I was expecting."
Izuku cringed recalling his conversation with Mandalay when he first hired Momo, 'This was Aunty Shino's plan all along!'
"It's not a requirement to work as a maid at the Pussycats' agency, but as I already explained, I needed the extra money and Izuku was my best client." They had also told her, how her parents had gone overseas while leaving her here, although Momo was still withholding the fact that she stayed because of Izuku.
"Yeah Mom, Momo has been trying her hardest as a hero, student, and maid, while I've been trying my best as her b-boyfriend!" He did stutter a bit because his mom still hadn't given her approval about their relationship.
Inko took another sip of tea, "I still can't believe they would abandon their own child like that."
"Thank you but I would rather move past that."
"Although that doesn't mean I approve of your maid relationship, especially after that display that welcomed me home."
Both Izuku and Momo were hit with shame as they bowed their heads to her harsh voice.
"But I do approve of you two dating. In fact, I fully support it!" And Inko Midoriya gave them the same sunshine smile that her son usually would, easily uplifting the atmosphere around the apartment. "Now how about I make dinner? You'll be joining us, right?" Inko asked Momo.
Momo didn't know why but her own eyes lightened up from Inko's kindness as she gasped from surprise until it settled into a full-blown grin, "Of course! I can already feel the Midoriya family's warmth and support!"
It was a lively dinner in the household as the tension from before easily died down with Inko even teasing them about it. Momo also explained to her boyfriend how she met his mother beforehand all the while, Inko praised Momo for her composure and maturity during all the crises they faced. All the while Izuku was an embarrassed mess because his girlfriend and mom were getting along too well.
After they shared a hot meal together, chatted for a while as it got late. That was when Inko asked Momo if she wanted to stay the night. Izuku was tomato red all the while Inko had an earnest smile, ready to give her a home, except,
"Thank you for the offer, Ms. Midoriya, but I must decline." And she said it with that tilt of the head and everlasting smile.
"Eh?" And that was Izuku's only possible reply because that was the first time, that smile ever confused him.
"Oh, dear. I understand, but if you ever change your mind," Inko simply let the thought finish out naturally.
As it was getting late, Momo began to make her leave. As she was standing by the door, Izuku and her were talking. "Don't worry, Momo, I'll walk you home."
"Thank you, but it's okay. Your mother just came back from a long trip and I'm sure she would love to spend some time with you."
"Um, I'm sure she'll understand and-,"
Momo silenced him by lifting her hand up and simply saying, "I insist."
With a shrug and a sigh, Izuku nodded. "You know, it's not fair when you do that."
Momo giggled with a shake of her head. "Don't worry, we'll still have plenty of time together," And she leaned towards him, whispering it against his ear, "Alone at my place, Master..!"
And she ended it with a tender smooch on his cheek.
Satisfied with his weak-willed and weak-kneed reaction, she began to back away and make her leave. "Goodnight Darling, don't worry, I'll text you when I get home."
He could only nod in a happy stupor, waving goodbye like a lovesick idiot.
Once he was alone, Izuku closed the door and leaned on it, letting it out in a hopeless breath, thinking of all the times she'd been by his side since the day he met her under the cherry blossom trees. "I don't know, what I'd do without her..."
"Izuku Midoriya."
"Hiee!" Izuku snapped out of his infatuation, as his eyes darted at his mom. 'She only calls me by my full name when she's mad!'
"Although I approve of your relationship, that doesn't mean I approve of what, you two were obviously about to do."
"HIEE!"
"I think it's time we had a serious discussion, Izuku Midoriya."
'Hiee, why did she repeat it?!'
As Izuku had to deal with an uncomfortable reunion with his mother, Momo had to deal with her thoughts on the way home.
The thudding train tracks, and passing lights, resonated with the quiet train cart she was residing in, waiting for her stop. She glanced around at the lack of people around, then towards the window beside her, staring at the bustling city pass he by.
And her eyes had that half-lidded heaviness that she thought she had escaped from...
Her happy attitude had begun to lessen the further away she got from their home and the closer she got to her empty apartment. She couldn't help but to keep recalling, everything that happened with his mother. There were a few things that had been nagging at her since Inko showed up.
"Why did she keep mentioning how much she missed Izuku?... I thought he went to go visit her?" But if that wasn't true then...
Momo clutched her first over her lap but kept her stubborn eyes from wincing, 'N-No, I can't think like that. Izuku was patient and trusting with me, if I can't return the gratitude then what's the point?' Although she was aware of the fact that she kept the truth from him while he lied to her, she still decided to put her faith in Izuku. But it stung even more, because she figured the frustration she was feeling was the same feeling that Izuku had to deal with when he didn't know what was wrong.
But that wasn't what was bothering her. It was what she had realized.
Momo didn't notice it, but she was dragging her feet as she reached her apartment. With a quiet click, she unlocked her door and stepped inside, not bothering to turn on the lights. She simply let the pale moonlight shimmer inside through her small, balcony window-door as it reflected off her porcelain skin.
She leaned back on her door, slowly sliding down it, as she continued to ponder...
"She had even disapproved of our relationship, didn't she?"
Izuku hired her as a maid to keep his home clean until his mother came back. And they had completed their goal, right? Of course, she was aware that they could keep role-playing their Master-maid relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend but that wasn't the issue.
The issue was that Izuku couldn't hire her anymore.
She had lost her one and only client, just like that...
"Ne... Master... you don't need me, anymore... do you?"
