Inko sighed softly as she sat in her living room. Hisashi was dead asleep in the other room like usual having been up all night searching up on heroes and the like. Honestly, it was as if he was a brother at this point instead of her boyfriend. Though, she still loved him, just not the same way as she had before when they were in high school.

She knew that at some point she'd have to leave him. Yet, as of right now he was her only company and she was his for the most part when she wasn't busy with school or work.

Letting out a soft sigh, Inko couldn't help but look out the window as she thought about Toshinori. She felt like she met him before, but wasn't sure where that was. It had felt as if, a part of her knew, as did a spark of memory. Though it was rather faint, the only thing she could recall was the sound of cries, screams of pain and the smell of blood pooling in her senses.

That was the only thing that she could recall in her memories, yet there was something else that she felt. Feeling that she knew that weren't her own but she knew that at the same time they were hers.

Letting out a soft sigh, she reached for the end table and pulled out an old leather bound book. Faded with age, but Inko couldn't help but smile as she stared at this little book. It belonged to her ancestor, the princess who managed to escape death and made a name for herself. It was why her parents wanted to name her 'Inko' in the hopes that she would do the same as their ancestor.

Yet so far, she had yet to do such a thing.

Letting out a soft sigh, the young woman carefully flipped through the pages and stared at the hand writing that filled the book. She could faintly make out some of the words, for the most part yet, most of them having faded to time. Yet, this was merely the original. She had a copy of the tales that had been rewritten so many times in her family over the years as even the original would have faded with time.

"Inko?" came a voice, snapping her out of her trance. Turning her gaze upward, she saw a tall man, well nothing compared to Toshinori's height but tall compared to her anyway. He had brown hair with a few locks of his bangs hanging over his forehead. His bright brown eyes hidden behind a pair of black rimmed glasses as he tiredly stared at her. "Didn't think you'd be up. You came back late." He said with a chuckle before sitting down beside her and leaned against the back of the couch.

"I couldn't sleep." Inko whispered softly as she let out a soft sigh. Looking up at her boyfriend as she asked "Hisashi, I made a new friend, though I have conflicting feelings with him." Inko looked at the book in her hands, almost afraid to read more than she had already read, even though she had read it many times in the past.

"Conflicting how?" asked Hisashi, looking at her in concern.

"Honestly? I don't know, I feel as if I know him from somewhere, but at the same time I know I don't. I feel comfortable around him even though we just met." Inko said with a frown on her face.

Hisashi pulled her against his side, causing her to blink her green eyes up at her as he gazed down at her with a small smile on his face. "I know I haven't always been there for you Inko, yet it seems that we are indeed drifting apart but I want to still give us a try. But…" He trailed off for a moment, looking up at the ceiling as he seemed to be rather lost in thought before he let out a soft sigh. "But, if we aren't meant to be then I'll let you go without a fight." He really thought that she had fallen out of love? No, she did still love him but it just didn't feel like it had been before. Whatever it was, she had no idea, but she knew that she did indeed still love him.

"Hisashi I still-"

"Don't Inko, don't force yourself to speak of words that you yourself don't even know if they are the truth." Hisashi said with a small smile on his face before kissing her forehead. "I won't lie, I still love you as well, but even my own feelings are just as confusing. We've been together pretty much forever." Inko giggled a little at his enthusiasm but knew that it was a little forced it seems.

"Anyway, I have to get to work myself. I'll see you tonight? Maybe we can talk a little more okay? I'll take a break from my computer and from work itself." Inko smiled a little at him, knowing that he was trying to be a better boyfriend for her, she knew that she herself wanted to try but felt like there was something missing in her life but she couldn't be sure as to what it was.

"I'll like that." Inko whispered softly before getting up herself before she made her way to her bedroom and started to get dressed. It was another day, that was for sure though she knew that it was just another means to earning her keep in the hopes of keeping this place with Hisashi and of course, getting her license to get her dream café and hoped that she would be able to achieve her dream.

Once that was all settled, she knew that she could finally have her other dream. Having a family full of love and life. Though, as for who would be her husband, she had originally thought that it was to be Hisashi, now though she wasn't so sure as to who that position would belong too, though she just hoped that she would find out someday.

Letting out a soft sigh, the young woman looked at the time and knew that if she got dressed now, she'd have time to catch the bus and make it to work with some time to spare.

Smiling to herself, the young woman got ready and made her way over to work.


Once she got to work, of course her boss would yell at her. Sighing softly, the young woman clocked in for the day and started to get to work. Taking orders, bringing them to the back and of course making sure that everyone was happy even though she was miserable.

Being happy was one thing, at least you know you are happy and you had a good reason for it. Everyone around you could be happy and filled with so much life and joy yet, for her? While she was here, she had to wear a mask. A mask of someone who was happy at all times during her shift even though really she hated this place. She wanted to find a better paying job, but knew that she had to do this in order to live.

"You got my order wrong!" Shouted one of the customers. Inko winced as she tried to explain that what he had said wasn't what he had ordered before. He kept complaining and Inko bowed and made her way back to the kitchen and redid the order. Though the man of course had complained a few times before finally getting the food that he ordered, and of course wasting more time for Inko.

"I want a refill!" shouted one customer, causing Inko to rush as she used her quirk to attract the pot of coffee toward her before grabbing onto the handle and poured its contents into the cup. "Bout damn time."

Inko gave a smile in responds before making her way over to the register and started to ring up the orders with a sigh. Honestly, it felt like she was in some kind of rut. No wonder she felt so sad most of the time, with people like this around it made her wonder why she bothered staying if it wasn't for the fact this was how she was surviving on such low income.

Running around, the young woman tried to get herself through the day. This was the only thing that kept her through the day that was for sure. It also made her see how not to treat other people, though she knew she also knew that regardless if someone had a bad day that you shouldn't treat others this way.

After all, she was only human and this was no way to treat someone.

Letting out a soft sigh, the young woman looked at the time, she saw that she had already been here for a few hours. Why wasn't this day over with already? Shaking her head, the young woman ran a hand through a stray lock of her hair that had fallen out of her ponytail as she looked around the dining area. Every single table was filled, not a single empty seat, how that was she had no idea, though Inko knew that she had to do something.

Letting out yet another soft sigh, Inko looked up at the ceiling as a soft groan escaped her. How was it when this place had such a bad reputation that they were packed with people? It just didn't make a lick of sense to her unless the food was that good. Though she couldn't be sure as to what it was that made people come back.

Frowning, Inko couldn't help but think that she would need a break or something right now. Inko closed her eyes as she ran her fingers through the loose strands of hair as she looked over at the clock once again. Well, she figured that it was time for her to have her break soon, then she could have some time to relax and maybe have some tea. Though, Inko had a feeling that it wouldn't solve her problem today.

"I want my tea refill here!" Shouted a customer, causing Inko to groan. So many more people demanded refills or more treats and snacks among other things in the café, and it made Inko want to rip her hair out from the roots. Yet, she knew that she had to keep herself calm and collected before she lost herself to her own anger.

Inko felt trapped, felt as if everything was starting to close in on her to the point that she couldn't breathe. It even felt like something had wrapped itself around her heart and started to squeeze itself in the hopes of squeezing the life out of her.

"Oh my god, look at that man!" gushed one of the waitresses.

Inko blinked her eyes a little, her mind snapping back from her trance as she looked up and wondered what it was that the women were talking about.

"He's so tall, and handsome!" said another, causing Inko to blink a little in confusion.

"Look at the blonde hair that seems to fall from his hoodie!" called another.

Okay that had caught her attention. Making her way over to the register, the young woman blinked her green eyes as she looked and saw that a tall man had indeed, entered the café. He was wearing a hoodie, it was a blue hoodie with red lining the hoodie and pockets making her smile a little.

His blue eyes were searching, she knew that from the way he was turning his head around as if he was trying to find the greatest treasure in the world. Soon, his blue eyes fell onto her, causing her to smile gently at him. He almost seemed to smile at her, though the women who were in his line of sight all seemed to squeal thinking that he was looking at them. Though Inko knew that he was staring right at her, his eyes still sparked with electricity much like they always did when she saw him.

"Inko, I hope I didn't come at a bad time." Toshinori said with a smile still on his face. He reached up and pulled his hood down and shook his hair a little, she noticed that some water had fallen off of his head. Had it started to rain outside?

"No Toshinori, you came at a perfect time. I should be going on my break now." Inko said with a smile on her face.

As she made her way to the back, Inko saw a few of the women glaring at her. She knew that they were angry that she was sitting with a handsome man on her break even though she had a boyfriend. Though, could she even call Hisashi her boyfriend when she wasn't even sure what it was that he was feeling as much as herself? It seemed as if they had at least understood the point that they needed to speak, but otherwise, she knew that maybe it was indeed over.

"Why would such a man want you?!" shouted one woman.

"You have a man! Save some man meat for us!" shouted another.

Inko narrowed her eyes at them. "I'm not dating him, he's my friend." Inko felt like she was lying when she said that part. Was he just a friend? Even though they hadn't known each other for very long? She couldn't help but wonder about that, though she hoped that she would learn the truth about what she felt at some point.

Shaking her head, the young woman calmly said "It's his choice on who he sees, not mine. Not yours, if he didn't find you interesting then you shouldn't get your hopes up." With that, the young woman left the back area and made her way over to the dining area and there stood Toshinori, his hands in his pockets as he shifted his body back and forth on his feet as he hummed a soft tune under his breath.

She couldn't help but smile as she saw Toshinori, he seemed as if he was in a world of his own before he noticed Inko and gave her a small wave, hm she noticed that he was wearing gloves. As if sensing her frown, Toshinori looked down and hid his hand once again. "I'm sensitive to sunlight." He calmly said, his eyes avoiding her in what she could suspect to be either a half-lie, or that he found the topic rather awkward.

Inko giggled a little at him as she said "If that's the case, then let's go to the back of the dining area. There isn't much light there." She smiled at him a little more before walking to the back. Toshinori following her as she added "Plus, I think this way the women will leave you alone. I think you've attracted their attention."

"Why?" He asked with confusion.

Inko rolled her eyes as she smiled up at Toshinori. "Because they think you are very handsome." Seeing him blink his eyes in shock and confusion, Inko wondered why he didn't seem flustered, or why his cheeks didn't turn red with the way he was just staring at her. It was rather strange, though she knew that it also wasn't any of her business if he blushed or not. Maybe it was part of his health problem such as his 'sun sensitivity' that he had mentioned earlier.

"Are you okay?" asked Toshinori, causing her to look up at him with a frown on her face. He seemed to sense her confusion as he looked away shyly. "You just seemed lost. As if everyone was trying to hurt you in some way. I can't really explain it." Toshinori frowned a little as he wrapped his hand around his chin, his index and middle fingers tapping against his lips as he seemed in deep thought. "As if the world had turned itself against you perhaps, and maybe a mixture of panic coursing through you."

Inko blinked a little as she stared at him with wide eyes. How was it that he could read her so well, she couldn't help but look away with a soft sigh. "I guess you aren't wrong in that aspect. Everyone here treats me terribly. I don't know what to do. If it isn't for the fact that I need this job, I'd leave but… I don't want to depend on my family either."

Toshinori nodded his head as he gave her a soft expression before grabbing onto her hand and smiled gently at her. "I'm sure that you'll find a good job Inko. I bet there is a better one for you, one that will treat you with the respect that you deserve." Inko just blinked at him and felt the blood rushing to her cheeks. How was it that he could act like this, as if it was the most natural to keep her calm, keep her happy and try to assure her in the first place?

He gave her another smile before he let go of her hand, she couldn't help but notice that he still wore the gloves, even while he was inside. Why was he still wearing those gloves when before he never wore them before so why did he have to wear them now of all times?

Looking up at the man, she saw that he seemed a little pale, a little tired really. IT was strange seeing such a thing, though she couldn't help but be rather curious as to what it was that made him look so sickly. "Toshi, are you okay?" asked Inko with a frown.

"I'm fine, why do you ask?" he asked softly.

"You seem ill. Or at least look like you got a bad cold or something… here." She reached up before he could protest and stop her, Inko felt his forehead only to pull her hand back. "You feel rather cold, are you okay? Stay here." Inko took off before Toshinori could protest any further. She was determined to help him, maybe with him being out in the rain it had made his skin cold, and that was why he also still wore the gloves.

Rushing back, Inko held out a steaming cup of tea for Toshinori and smiled brightly at him. "Here, this should warm you up." Toshinori just stared with wide eyes before he looked away from her. "Something wrong?" she asked, her smile slowly starting to fade.

"I… I don't like hot drinks." He whispered.

"Please? I made it to help you warm up. Even if it can warm you up a little it'll make me happy." Inko said with a soft smile on her face. He looked up at her for a moment, as if trying to figure out what it was that he should or could do. The pros and cons about drinking the tea, and not drinking it. He let out a deep sigh before he held out a hand and wiggled his fingers in a gesture for her to hand him the tea.

A soft smile grew on his face as she handed it to the blonde man and watched as he drank at the tea. She was rather amazed that he drank it so well, his face though twisted in an expression that she's never seen before. He seemed as if he was in pain, though she couldn't really be sure.

Once Toshinori finished off the tea, he set it down and shuddered a little bit. Inko figured it was a sign that he was starting to warm up. Smiling a little, the young woman giggled a little as she said "I hope you like it, I made it myself." Inko giggled a little, though she saw that Toshinori seemed even worse for wear than she thought possible. "Toshi are you okay?" She asked gently.

"Fine, perfectly fine. Don't worry, it's just that it's because the tea was still hot is all. I'll be fine, I'll just need to warm up at home later is all." He said, waving off her concern with his hand before he smiled gently at her. Though, Inko couldn't be sure why he seemed so concerned about her own worries rather than his own health, though she just hoped that he would open up to her some more one day. For now, she was just happy that he was at least doing this for her.