It's evening and Shouto is in the hospital.
After the USJ incident, his father decided to give him several days to rest. So he's free to be out here.
He doesn't even know why he's here. He remembers that day. On Ringoki lane, wearing a scarf. The hooded girl with the bruises bumped into him. It's not supposed to be something that stays on his mind, but it did. He've never met anyone, other than his own siblings perhaps, in the same situation as he was.
He isn't even sure if she's that girl he bumped into that night. He doesn't feel anything special for her. She's just a classmate. But there's something he'd like to confirm.
"— oh, com'on, Mum, quit it—" he stopped and peeked into the room. Inside, on the bed sat Kimura, laughing as she attempted to fix her hair. Her mother, a petite woman who looks very young for someone in their forties, chuckled as she combed her fingers through Kimura's hair. "Hey, teach me how to do the Symmetrical Reverse Chignon Twist again? I forgot."
He has no idea what they're talking about, but Shouto felt like he's intruding in on something private. He turned to leave, and-
"Todoroki-kun?"
He stopped and glanced back. Kimura's mother is staring at him, a little surprised before she smiled.
"I'm going to buy some headbands for Akemi." She said, dark eyes glittering. (He is, for a moment, reminded of his mischievous classmate.) "I'm sure Akemi'll appreciate some company." She patted his shoulder as she left.
Shouto sighed, and knocked on the door.
"Come in." Kimura's voice drifted out, " Mum, did you forget your wallet or something? Again? I mean, I know you're forgetful but..." She sighed and looked up, then her eyes widened.
"Peppermint Swirl!" She cheered a little, "You came to visit?"
"Not... Exactly." He frowned, "I came to confirm something." A look of realisation drew across her face and she smiled.
"Ask away." She nodded, reaching over to the bedside table for a cup of warm water.
"Did you..." He hesitated, but in the end decided to put it bluntly. "Do you happen to have a strained family relationship with your parents?"
"Yeah." She answered, without hesitation. "It's an open secret. I hate my dad and he hates me too." She shrugged.
"... How bad would you say it is?"
"He kicks me down the stairs sometimes. I once got locked in the basement in, like late winter with open wounds and broken ribs." She started just as bluntly. "I don't really care though. Everything will work out in it's own way and I'd rather not touch this can of worms."
He stared at her for several long moments before he spoke. "Did you happen to run into someone? Last Christmas Eve?"
"Yeah. The scarf guy." She said. "Who I'm pretty sure is you. Since we live in the same area and now that I can actually recall things better I finally know that his hair isn't pink but red and white. What are the odds, really?"
Huh. She can be pretty blunt. He started at her, debating whether he should tell her why he asked. Perhaps an exchange of information, since it's making him uncomfortable that he knows more about the girl than she does him, but decides against it.
"I'm gonna guess you don't get along with your dad either. Huh." He looked up, a little surprised. "Hey, don't look like that, a person's abilities and their worth as a person are two separate matters. From what I know of Endeavor, he is a scrum bag who doesn't deserve the air he breathes. But as a pro hero, he is skilled and excellent. I'm not dumb."
Huh.
That's... Oddly mature of her, considering how she usually acts.
"Akemi! I'm back!" The door opens and Shouto glances at it to see Kimura's mother holding up several packets of hair ties and combs. Shouto stood to leave but Kimura-san grabbed him before he could and insisted that he join them.
"Pfttttt..."
"It's not funny."
"Yeah right."
"...I'm not here to play games or make friends."
"Hard to survive out there without connections, Todoroki."
He gave her the best deadpan glare he could, as the girl stifled a laugh as her mother beads his hair.
"I hate you."
"Love you too Peppermint Swirl."
Please RnR for our poor Peppermint Swirl!
