"I've got a bit of bad news for you today, Mori." My caretaker, Ms. Hanamura started. "Sorry for putting this on you right out of school."
She should apologize for making me go through the entire school day with a text demanding me to come to her office for a "discussion".
"I need to tell you something you should know since you are pretty much an adult... who your father is and what he has done."
Nothing I don't already know Ms. Hana. Not that you're aware of that.
"Your father... he's a criminal. He was the CEO of a distribution company, but he extorted people and businesses to benefit his own."
I've overheard this story countless times. My father is someone who manipulated people to get his way.
"He had connections with authorities which made him pretty much immune to the law. He held this power over those he controlled. The fear of knowing that police would side with him under all circumstances kept them from fighting back. At least until he created an enemy with nothing to lose. They weren't afraid of getting caught."
She has to tell anyone who considers adopting me about this. He apparently has a large degree of influence despite being in prison, so I guess it's to warn them of potential danger. I've been eavesdropping on those conversations ever since I was ten.
"They resorted to informing the people rather than the police. That's what it came to. They exposed him to the people of America. Obviously, they weren't happy that a rich criminal was able to get away with his crimes by paying the people who were meant to protect them. The public outrage was enough to bring him down a bit despite his influence."
One thing Ms. Hana didn't keep from me is that I am half African American. That explains why this went down in America, but this raises the question of why I'm in an orphanage in Japan. The obvious answer is that my mother comes from Japan and took me back with her... if this is true... why didn't she just keep me?
Hana took a second to look me over, her beautiful golden eyes peering into the black of my own. She narrowed her eyes, noticing that I lost focus staring for a moment before speaking again. "You've known this for awhile, haven't you Mori?"
My heart skipped a beat.
I hoped she'd never know. I should have been focusing on how to handle this conversation! I'm usually more on point than this.
"You are the most expressive person I know, and I just told you that you are the son of a villain. You didn't even flinch. Dead giveaway." She sounds more disappointed in the fact that I got caught than anything.
"I'm going to guess you've come to terms with your father's actions by now then?"
It has been seven years since I first learned about him. It just doesn't seem to matter to me anymore. There's nothing I can do about him or his actions. It broke me down when I first found out.
I nod my head, saying no would only lead to an even more bothersome situation.
"Then why do you keep getting yourself into trouble? Your recent actions don't resemble your usual behavior."
If she knew everything I've been doing, she'd lose her mind.
She frowns at a sudden thought. "It's Takeshi's influence isn't it? Damn delinquent!"
I shake my head. She's partially right, but Takeshi has helped more than harmed. Of course he could have thought of a less... illegal way to help me in my endeavors, but I still don't think he should be blamed for the trouble I get into. It's of my own free will after all.
"Speaking of you and Takeshi, that brings us to what I was actually supposed to be telling you. You will not be receiving support into adulthood from the orphanage due to the little stunt you and Takeshi pulled back in February."
Her eyes dart down to a paper laying on her desk. A second passed before she turned her attention back to me with a deadpan look on her face. "Now I'm supposed to give you some bullshit long lecture... it's not happening. Mori, I know you're a good kid but you keep doing bad things."
She takes a second to look at the door behind me, contemplating. I guess she's weighing the chances of someone listening in right now.
"I don't know why, but at least don't get caught. Use your head and keep yourself out of trouble!" She said with a flick to my forehead.
There she is! The Hana I'm accustomed to.
"Basically, this thing says if you get your act together the orphanage will be willing to rethink their punishment. Wow, I was really expected to read this whole novel over using a short and simple explanation?" She sighed.
Hana may be an orphanage caretaker, but she Is really curt and callous with us. It's pretty amusing to see her fail her attempts at tact and formality.
"Stop laughing." She shot me her signature glare, an expression that weaponizes her beautiful yet intimidating features. The way her silky black hair accentuates her golden eyes is captivating. I can't help but to stare into her eyes and feel intimidated.
Wait! I didn't even even laugh. For someone who says their quirk is too weak and insignificant to talk about, she sure seems able to read my mind.
"That's all Mori, I doubt I can change your behavior. Just be careful not to ruin your life. Or end it for that matter. Also please get Takeshi to come here, he isn't answering his phone."
I made my way out with a wave. I'm glad Hana decided not to waste my evening with whatever book length lecture the orphanage owners had made for me.
"Don't think about your father and... other related things too much. There's no reason to worry about that at this point. "This is the most emotion I've heard from her in a long time.
I don't think I can. I need closure.
-下向き-
I feel a hand land on my shoulder the second I closed the door behind me. I can't help but jump at the sudden touch. If it wasn't for the reassuring safety of the orphanage, I would have reacted more violently.
Looking over my shoulder, I locked eyes with my best friend Takeshi. A stupid looking smirk spread across his stupid looking face, amused by his little prank. He knows how paranoid I am.
He ran his fingers through his hair while letting out a chuckle. "Sup Mori, I've got some news too." He whispered.
We take a few steps away from Hana's door before starting our conversation.
"The broker heard we got busted and is offering an ultimatum in the form of a job offer." He said smugly.
He's talking like he actually did something.
I was supposed to pay the broker two-hundred thousand yen to obtain the info I asked him for.
That info being who and where my mother is.
To do that, he needs to know at least who my father is. I don't have a last name, so my identity doesn't help. Hana always refused to tell me his name and the finer details of his downfall aren't exactly public information, especially not outside of America. All he knows is that my father was a ceo who did something bad in America. I am surprised he even considered my request.
A "job" from someone who can obtain that kind of information obviously isn't going to be conventional. It's also going to be a "job" worth two-hundred thousand yen. In other words, it's going to be difficult, dangerous, and criminal. Nothing new I guess.
"Meet me at the hideout later, I'll tell you about it more then." He said while patting my head. "Also, did your hair get darker?" He grabbed my hair and pulled it closer to his eye level, yanking on my scalp.
I don't have patience for Takeshi's shit right now. Thankfully I just thought of a way to get him out of my face and get revenge for his antics. I slapped his hand away and tried to stomp on his feet. I gave him just enough time to dodge my stomps. He took a step back each time until he ended up right in front of Hana's office door. Right where I want him.
"Ok! Ok! I'm sorry Mori!" He exclaimed, clearly amused and unapologetic. "It's not my fault you're so short!"
"TAKESHI?!!?" Ms. Hana yelled from within her office.
Seeing Takeshi cringe at the anger in her voice is very satisfying. Hana seems to be especially protective of me. The only reason someone as un-kid friendly as her has kept this job is how "mama bear" she gets when protecting the kids under her care. She takes that to another level when it comes to me.
I would leave him with a mildly angry Hana, but he felt the need to make an unnecessary comment about my height. I'm not even that short, if anything he is too tall! I've got something special for him.
I put my hand on his shoulder and two transparent images of him appeared. One facing the door while the other seems to be resting its foot on it. Seeing Takeshi's eyes widening in realization, I struck.
Crash!
In an instant, he played out the scene depicted by the phantoms and kicked the door down. He looks at me in horror, or rather a phantom image of myself. I made sure to leave it waving with a smile that would make Loki proud while I escaped down the hall. I can only imagine the terrifying look on Hana's face. Hopefully that will teach him a lesson.
-下向き-
It took me less than a second to travel down the hall and reach the stairwell. I peek my head around the corner to see Takeshi standing right where I left him, staring at my now fading image in shock.
"I'm gonna guess that noise was you?" A childish voice greeted me.
I look up the stairs and into the remaining eye of Cy, a kid who was brought to the orphanage about six years ago. He and I clicked pretty well as kids who didn't want to be bothered. Especially since we kept getting bothered.
I brought a finger to my lips. He isn't one to snitch but I really don't want to feel Hana's wrath, so better safe than sorry.
"I won't say a word. I'll channel my inner Mori." Cy said, matching my gesture.
He decided to take a peek around the corner and immediately noticed what was wrong.
"Mori... Where is Ms. Hana's door?" He asked.
I shrugged my shoulders.
"NO! I AM SICK OF YOUR SHIT TAKESHI!" Hana's voice boomed.
"Dude, I have to go in there next!" Cy whined.
Not my problem.
"If I get chewed out I'm selling you out." He spat before continuing on his way.
I guess it is my problem.
Four years ago Cy got comfortable enough around me to share his story. To be honest... I wish he hadn't. His story brought a few a possibilities about my life to light.
His father decided to abandon him and his mother. He couldn't put up with his wife's anger issues or his bratty son anymore. This must have sent his mother's already unstable mental state over the edge, since Cy noticed she slowly loss any patience she had for him. One day Cy said something he shouldn't have. He blamed her for his father's departure. What happened next differs depending on who's asked. If you ask the staff of the hospital he was taken to, she accidentally stuck him with a pan while making wild hand gestures. If you ask Cy... she looked at him like he was her worst enemy. Then punched him as hard as she could. Hard enough to blowout his orbital. Crushing his left eye.
Cy remembers hearing her voice while in a daze. She apologized and told him that she would be back for him when she betters herself, to salvage what they had left. The last thing he remembers is feeling her embrace before waking up in a hospital bed.
I wonder what went through her head as she stared directly into his eyes. She had a moment to stop herself, and yet she didn't. To do that to her own son. She had to have genuinely hated him for at least a second. After all that, she still didn't give up on her family. After all that, He knows she still loves him and will come back to him.
Here I am, unaware of who my mother even is. Unaware of why she left me. I know she isn't dead, I can feel it. I don't think she couldn't afford to take care of me. She was the wife of a CEO after all. No matter how many explanations I try to think of, there is one that always takes the forefront of my mind.
She hates me.
The feeling of isolation washes over me. I somehow made it to my room without noticing while lost in thought.
It's going to be one of those days.
Why else would she not even leave me a name, or... anything for me to at least acknowledge her existence by? If it wasn't for biology class, I'd have never known I even have a mother.
Why does she hate me? Does she think I'll end up like my father? That's not fair! I didn't get a chance to prove myself! I'm a good kid. Right?
I guess the last few years of organized crime wasn't exactly good behavior. But I need the money, I need to know! And I might just be able to force myself to speak again if it's to my long lost mother!
Please I can't take it anymore! I haven't said a word in ten years, ever since-
Blood red eyes flashed in my mind.
Instinctively, my right hand shot up and slapped into the left side of my sweaty neck. I stumbled into my bathroom, fumbling with the light switches until I managed to turn it on.
My reflection. It's almost like I'm looking at someone else. Some kid who seems to be scared for his life. It shouldn't be like this, I shouldn't be having panic attacks in the safety of my own home. How would I ever live alone like this?
Another reason to find my mother. Even if she doesn't say what I want to hear, at least I can stop stressing over it.
I really need to get out of my head.
I take another look at myself in the mirror. Much calmer. Albeit a single dreadlock out of place, thanks to Takeshi. I returned it to its rightful spot, draping over the right side of my head with the rest of them.
I still need to go the hideout. As if school hasn't made this day long enough. I swear! If Takeshi signed us up for some kind of suicide mission, I'll kill him myself!
-下向き-
Hello everyone. This is my first fic so some constructive criticism would help out a lot. Otherwise, feel free to comment your thoughts on the story. I'm planning on rewriting this if I ever get good at writing.