Their Hero Academia – Chapter 15: Kenta Sato and the Pain of Memories and Moving On
Many years ago…
"Kenta," Takuma asked, "can I ask a question?"
He looked up from his bowl of cereal. Ever since his Quirk came in, he hasn't had to worry about getting cavities, so he can eat all the sugary cereal he wants. "Sure," he said.
"Do you miss your mommy?"
Kenta looked down again. "All the time. But Daddy says she's always watching me."
"Oh," Takuma said. His face twisted into what, in later years, Kenta would call his "Good Idea" face. "Do you think you could ask her not to watch for a little while? I don't think she's going to like my idea…"
"…I'll ask her to watch Daddy for a little while."
In spite of a somewhat eventful Monday through Thursday, Friday had passed without incident, and Kenta had left the school grounds early on Saturday morning to head to the apartment he shared with his dad. It wasn't particularly far, as they had moved to it to be fairly close to U.A. when he had accepted the job running the cafeteria.
Kenta turned the key and stepped inside. "Dad? I'm home!"
No voice answered him, but he knew that sometimes, his dad got so focused working in the kitchen that he didn't hear anything else. Kenta headed there, but found no sign of his dad. There was, however, a note on the counter.
Kenta,
Went out to pick up a few extra ingredients for tonight's dinner and dessert. Left you some breakfast on the counter. Be back soon!
Love,
Dad
Oh, well, that was good. But speaking of food, his rumbling stomach reminded him that he hadn't eaten breakfast before he'd left the dorms. On the counter was a bowl of nuts and bolts. It brought a grin to Kenta's face. Dad may have occasionally groused about the eating habits he'd developed because of his Quirk ("A house full of food and the kid's eating rocks!"), but he was indulgent enough to keep the kinds of things Kenta liked to eat on hand. He popped a few nuts into his mouth and chewed them up.
Maybe his wasn't the flashiest or most impressive of Quirks, but he'd done good enough with it to get into the Heroics Course. Besides, it meant that a snack was always in arms' reach.
He noticed that his dad's cell phone was also sitting on the counter. He must have forgotten it when he left. It looked like a number of texts had come in since he'd left.
Koda: Please call me if you need me today, Sato.
Kirishima: Katsuki and I are thinking of you, bro!
Ojiro: Hope you're doing all right. Toru and I are keeping you in our thoughts.
Sero: Hey, man. I'm sorry about Mina. She means well, but she can be kind of insensitive sometimes. Let us know if you need anything!
Midoria: I know you're spending the day with Kenta, but just let us know if you want to get together sometime after that!
Iida: Please accept my deepest sympathies and know Mei and I are keeping you in our thoughts.
Habuko: I'll see you there today. Be well.
Pink Trouble: Sato, I'm not sorry about what I said. But I am sorry about the timing of it. Call me. Please.
Kenta felt a little guilty reading his dad's texts, but considering they were right there to be seen, it wasn't much. But now he was curious. What exactly had Aunt Mina said? It looked like she and his dad were fighting. But what about? The other texts, at least, weren't unexpected. There were probably more that had come in earlier in the day. Kenta had been lucky enough to get out of the dorms without running into anyone other than Takuma (who'd hugged him), Midoriya (who'd expressed sympathy) and Kirishima-Bakugo (who'd given him a polite nod that was the emotional equivalent of a long conversation for her). It was not that he was deliberately trying to avoid his friends and classmates, just… today was rough.
The anniversary of the day his mom had died always was. It had been ten years now. And it still didn't seem any easier.
Rikido Sato had first met Chizu Ito via a conspiracy. She had been a friend of Habuko Mongoose at Isamu Academy, and Mongoose had been the good friend of his father's friend Tsuyu Asui. So when several of the girls of Isamu Academy had gotten together for a party with the girls of U.A., Aunt Tsu had asked his dad to provide the desserts. He'd meant to just drop the desserts off and go, but Aunt Tsu and Mongoose had both insisted he stay and meet some of the girls. They'd been incredibly insistent that he meet Chizu.
The two had hit it off and made plans for a date. One date turned into many, and many turned into marriage. Years later, Aunt Tsu would reveal she and Mongoose had conspired to get the two to meet, believing that they would hit it off. They had been very happy.
His mom had been a tall woman, taller even than his dad, with big, bright orange hair. Her Quirk had been a strong one, letting her absorb inorganic matter and using that to increase her mass and strength. He didn't have many memories of her, but what memories he had were of a happy woman, with a glowing smile. He remembered her hands were soft, soothing as she held him after a nightmare, her touch gentle when she patched up his "ouchies." He remembered his parents laughing in the kitchen, or snuggling on the couch, sneaking kisses when they thought he wasn't looking.
After he'd been born, his parents had decided that while his mom would resume active Hero work, his dad would mostly step back from that. Lunch Rush was retiring, U.A. was looking for a new head chef to run the cafeteria, and both of them were a little bit worried about what might happen if both of them were active Heroes. While that didn't seem to matter to the majority of their friends, no one dismissed their worries or thought less of him for taking a step back. He still went out on occasion when needed, or stepped in where he was available to act, but he devoted himself more to community outreach and the students of U.A. So Upsize had risen back in the rankings, eventually becoming the Number Twenty Hero, and Sugarman had happily dropped to the lower tiers.
They'd have a good life. They'd been a happy family.
He had been five when she'd died.
No, that wasn't exactly right.
He had been five when she'd been killed.
It had been bad times. A new League of Villains had tried to get off the ground, and the Pro-Hero community had been working nonstop to put them out of commission before anything serious could happen. They hadn't been the nihilistic League of old that their parents had fought, just a bunch of Villains who had found they were stronger together than apart, and who were willing to settle for smaller piece of a more guaranteed pie. But they had been a serious threat all the same. Their Quirks had been powerful and many Pro-Heroes had been seriously injured fighting them.
It had come down to a big battle between the League and several Pro-Heroes, including Red Riot, Real Steel, and Chargebolt. Including Upsize.
To say the battle between the two groups had been brutal was an understatement. The villain known as Strongarm had nearly beaten Red Riot to death. Kirishima-Bakugo's father was lucky to have survived his injuries, let alone have recovered from them enough to return to active Hero work. Uncle Denki still carried a few scars from that fight.
And his mom… His mom had fought a Villain called Hexsplode, who a Quirk which let her shoot beams from her eyes that made whatever it hit explode after a few moments. In a terrible set of circumstances, she'd managed to use that power on a piece of rubble, just as his mom had absorbed it. It had exploded within her, badly injuring her. She had fought on, subduing the Villain before she could hurt anyone else in that fight. But her injuries had been too severe and she'd died before she could receive medical attention. They'd never even gotten the chance to say good-bye.
It was called Valhalla Cemetery and everyone buried in it was a Pro-Hero. Many had fallen in the line of duty, others of disease or natural causes. But all of them had used their Quirks in the cause of justice. Grand Torino was buried here, so was Native, and so were many others.
And so was his mom.
Kenta and his dad walked silently through the rows of headstones and memorials, occasionally pausing to pay respect to another Pro-Hero. There were so many graves and his mom was quite far back.
It wasn't the fanciest headstone in the cemetery, but like everything there, it was well cared for. There were a few small tokens left on or around it, from people his mom had saved during her all too brief stint as a Pro-Hero. There was already someone standing in front of the headstone and Kenta quickly realized it was Aunt Habuko, instantly recognizable from her shock of red hair and snake-like head. According to his parents, he'd found her absolutely terrifying as a baby, but the only memories he had of her were happy ones. She was surprisingly funny when she wanted to be, and caring in spite of her harsh appearance.
Her tongue flicked out and she turned her head to watch the two of them. "Hello, Rikido, Kenta. I didn't expect to beat you here."
"My fault," his dad said. "I had to go out and pick up a few things and was running behind."
She nodded, accepting the explanation without criticism.
They stood and looked at the grave.
Chizu Sato
-Upsize-
5/19/XXXX – 4/8/XXXX
Beloved wife and mother, Hero
His dad laid a hand on the headstone and lowered his head. Kenta could see the tears in his eyes falling unashamedly. "I miss you, babe," he said. "Every day. Thank you, for everything. Never did think a girl could fall for a big lug like me. You made every day amazing.
"You'd be so proud of Kenta. He got into U.A., just like me. He's gonna make us both proud, I just know it. Though if you're watching out for him, maybe tell him not to listen to Takuma so much, okay?"
In spite of himself, Kenta felt the smallest smile pull at his lips. It felt good to know his dad was proud of him. But he found tears were falling from his own eyes too. He'd been so young when she'd died. Their home was filled with pictures of him and his mom, of his dad and mom, and of all three of them. There were lots of videos they had shot over the years. And even one memorable episode of Cooking with Pro Heroes that had featured his mom and dad competing against other Pro Hero couples (including Kirishima-Bakugo's dads, which had resulted in Bakugo rather hilariously exploding the stove).
But sometimes, he found it harder and harder to remember her voice. His dad had gone an amazing job raising him, dealing with all the challenges that had arisen over the years. But all his friends still had their mothers, and he remembered how much it had hurt sometimes, to see them with their moms, knowing he didn't have one anymore. He remembered…
"Daddy?" he'd asked, when his father had come to pick him up. He'd been staying with Uncle Koji and Aunt Ibara, playing with Akaya. It was earlier than expected, his dad should have still been at U.A. for the day. His dad's eyes were red and puffy, like he'd been crying.
"Daddy, are you okay?" he'd asked. And where was his mom? Usually, they picked him up together.
His dad had bent down next to him, pulling him into a tight hug against his broad chest.
"Kenta…" he'd said, trailing off. "Kenta…"
His dad had taken a deep breath, and tried again. "Kenta… I'm… I'm so sorry. Your mommy's not coming home."
That hadn't made much sense to him. "Is she working late? Does she gotta stop the bad guys?"
His father's face had fallen, tears welling up in his eyes. "Kenta… Your mommy's not coming home ever again. I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
He hadn't understood then, but he'd known how brave his dad was. To have seen him cry like that could only mean something was very wrong. He'd understand all too soon.
The days that followed had been full of people in their home. Uncle Koji, Aunt Mina and Uncle Sero, Aunt Habuko, former teachers from U.A. and Isamu Academy, family, and friends. They had all said how sorry they were. His friends had all said how sorry they were. But they had all been there with their moms and his was gone and never coming back. Really, the only one who had understood was Katsumi Kirishima-Bakugo, whose father still lay in a hospital bed, fighting for every breath and clinging to life. They had drifted apart over the years, but in that moment, the two of them had been there for each other.
Oh, the adults had all said, what a hero she had been. The TV had all talked about what a hero she had been, how they were proud of the Hero who had laid down her life for them.
But nothing changed the fact that he was five years old and he was never going to see his mom again.
Kenta put his own hand on the grave.
"Mom… I know you're watching over me. Thank you. Don't know how I'd have done any of this without you. I hope I can make you proud. I just…
"I wish I'd gotten to know you more. I wish we'd had more time. I wanted you to see who I've become. I really hope you're still watching out for me. I'm gonna need all the help I can get if I'm gonna be a hero like you.
"But, ah, I am getting to be pretty famous. On the internet, anyway. Takuma says we can make it pretty big…"
He wiped the tears from his eyes. "I just… I just wish… I wish you'd been here. There's so much I wish we'd gotten to do together, so much I wish I'd gotten to show you.
"I… I miss you. So much. And I wish…
"I wish I could remember you better. And I'm worried I'm starting to forget you. Not… forget you, forget you. You're my mom. I'll always remember you. But I don't know if I can remember your voice. Sometimes, in my memories, in my dreams, I can't see your face… I don't want to forget…"
He felt a strong arm wrap itself around him, his father pulling him close. No more words were needed as they stood there, letting their thoughts wander. Their loss still pulled at them. It always would. But they were strong for each other. And they always would be. That was what family meant.
As they ate their dinner (which he had helped prepare), Kenta did have to admit, there was something to be said for eating actual food instead of whatever happened to be within arms' reach. Still… there was something nagging at the back of his mind.
"Dad," he began, "why aren't you talking to Aunt Mina?"
His dad frowned, swallowing the bite of food in his mouth. "What're you talking about, Kenta?"
"You left your phone this morning," Kenta said. "I saw the texts. I saw Uncle Hanta apologizing for her too. What's going on?"
His dad looked distinctly uncomfortable. "It's nothing. Just an argument between adults."
Kenta definitely didn't believe that. His dad was too soft-hearted to every fight with anyone for long. And Takuma's mom got along with pretty much everyone, whether they wanted her to or not.
"Dad, I'm not a kid. I'm fifteen. If something's going on, you can tell me."
His dad frowned again. "…your Aunt Mina thinks I should start dating again. She's been trying to fix me up for months."
Kenta was glad he wasn't drinking, because he probably would have done a spit take. "Oh."
"You don't have to worry," his dad said quickly. "I've been telling her no. No one's ever going to replace Chizu."
Kenta looked down at his plate. In all honesty, this was a conversation he'd thought about having with his dad before. But he'd never been sure how to bring it up. He knew his dad was happy, but also that he had to be lonely. "I think you should let her."
"…What?"
Kenta took a breath, to steady his nerves and thoughts. "I know you love Mom. And I know you miss her. I do too. And I know you've been living your life for me. And that's great, it really is. I couldn't have asked for a better dad than you.
"But I'm part way out of the house now, on my way to becoming a Pro-Hero. And you deserve a chance to have a life too. If you want to start dating, if you find someone who makes you happy, I'm not going to think you're replacing Mom. You get to be happy too, Dad."
"Kenta, I… I can't. It's been too long. Your mom was my world."
He shook his head. "I don't remember much, but from everything you ever told me… Mom would want you to be happy, Dad. I want you to be happy. And it sounds like that's all Aunt Mina wants. I know you've got to be lonely, now that I'm at school most of the time."
His dad wiped away a tear. "When did you get so smart? I'm lucky to have you."
"I'm pretty lucky too, Dad."
A long moment passed, in peaceful silence. Finally, Kenta spoke again. "You know, you didn't seem to think I was so smart on Thursday. What were your exact words? "Wasting your Quirk on nonsense.'"
"I stand by those words," he said. "But I'm also not going to stand in the way of your dreams. Just… find somewhere to do it other than my cafeteria, okay?"
Kenta laughed at that. "Yeah, okay, I'll tell Takuma we need to find another place for our show."
"I swear, that boy has gotten you in so much trouble…"
"Daaaad…"
And somehow, as it did, life went on.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Yeah, I've made a few small changes to Kenta's mom from the original chapter, as was suggested by a friend of mine, namely moving her from management to a different hero school. I think it works out better.